peace which procured warres Notable exployts of Mombrun with the end thereof The state of Xaintongue New practises inuented against those of the religion The Duke of Alencon the kings brother leaueth the Court and promiseth wonders Accord betweene the Prince of Conde and the Duke Casimir ouerthrowne by the Queen-mother The miserie of Frenchmen The Germaines armie entereth into France The king of Nauarres departure from the Court. After the D. of Alencon is made general of the armie A peace is propounded which in the end is fully agreed therevpon the fift Edict of pacification was made which like the rest hatched the sixt ciuill warre Foundations of the league begun by the house of Guise Preparations and beginnings of new warre A summarie of the king his Oration to the estates The intention of the same estates discouered What the king of Nauarre and Prince of Conde answered to the Deputies of the same estates Entrance to the sixt ciuil war and the most memorable things of the same being ended at last by an ample edict of pacification The proceedings both of one and other after the peace especially after the king his mother and those of the house of Guise which beganne to stirre and constrained the King of Nauarre to looke to himselfe but chiefly after the death of the Duke d'Alencon which serued for an infantation or production of the league in Paris and elsewhere the progressions wherof are declared Pretext of the leaguers mutinie whom the king attempteth to disvnite The King of Nauarre manifesteth himselfe against them The Queene-mother maketh her selfe a necessarie Agent heerein and causeth the King to yeelde vnto the leaguers more then they hoped for so that hee abolished the last edict of pacification prepareth for warre and demaundeth money The Pope excommunicateth the King of Nauarre and Prince of Conde the which the Parliament of Parris disliketh yet neuerthelesse the king formally proclaimeth himselfe against those of the religion who prepare to make resistance The Duke de Maine his exploits for the league then those of Duke de Mercoeur The memorable expedition of the Prince of Conde towards Anger 's What those of the religion did for their defence in Poictou Xaintongue and other places and the King of Nauarre against foure armies of the league The first and last exployts of the Duke de Ioyeuse for the league against the King of Nauarre Battell of Coutras Discourse of the iourney and ouerthrow of the Rutters armie abou◠the end of the yeare 1587. A summarie recitall of the attempts of the league against the Duke de Bouillon in those seasons Fresh attempts of the league against the estates and those of the religion The warre taketh beginning at Sedan The death of the Prince of Conde The Duke of Guise commeth to Parris vpon which ensueth the battell of Barricadoes The Kings retrait and the beginning of extreame euils in France Proceedings of the King and Leaguers Assignation of the estates at Blois An edict of vnion in the month of Iuly War ordained against such of the religion as intended those estates Attempts of the Duke of Sauoy against France Assembly of the Estates and that which proceedeth the ouerture of the same The Kings Oration who would confirme his Edict of Vnion The Duke of Guise his progressions discouered wherevpon ensueth the putting to death of him and his brother Warlike exployts by the K. of Nauarre for his owne defence and of the armie of the league in buse Poictou Niort taken from the league Restitution of Ganache Dissipation of the leaguers armie A straunge confusion in the estate of France Death of the Queen-mother Behauiour of the king the league and king of Nauarre during these beginnings Truce betweene the two kings Diuers exployts and enterprises of the leaguers who are discomfited in Normandie Beausse in the Isle of France The king with a puissant armie hauing brought in diuers places of importance drew neare Parris where a Iacobin Moonke subborned of long time for the same purpose traiterously gaue him a wound with a knife whereof after some certaine houres hee died and in him failed the race of the French kings of the line of Valois HENRY THE FOVRTH DIsposition of the French after the Kings death Councels of the league Order giuen for the affaires of his armie by the new King being Henry the fourth lawfull successor to the Crowne His genealogie His proceedings and notable exployts in Normandie neare to Arques From thence hee commeth towards Paris taketh the subburbes assayeth to drawe the leaguers to fight taketh Estampes Vendosme Mans reduceth many Prouinces to his obedience and martyreth Normandie wherevpon the Parliament riseth against him 90. Stratagems of the League for maintenance of themselues Exployts by the king in Normandie Battel of Parris Attempts of the Parliament of Roan the Parisiās against the K. The siege of Paris A strange diuisiō of the Order of Sorbōne frō their soueraigne Lord within the Realm Famine oppresseth the Parisians who desire peace and cannot obtaine it through the false deuises of the heads of the league who goeth about to deciue the king and people As for the king hee goeth forward against his enemies who are sauoured by the Duke of Parma the king of Spaine his Lieftenant who being resolued not to couple with the Frenchmen intrench in a strong place and make themselues Maisters of Lani vpon Marne Their intrenchment and auoyding of fight is an occasion that the king dismisseth his armie wherevpon ensueth the entrie of the Duke of Parma into Paris The taking and reprisall of Corbeil with the shamefull retrait of the Spaniards and Wallons 91. Parris is besieged as before Dauphine reconquered to the king The Pope fortifieth the league Cheualier d'Aumale is slaine Stratagems of the Spaniards for defacing of Parris Romish attempts against the king who taketh Chartres by composition and by his Lieftenants discomfiteth the league in Prouince and Poictou Afterwards hee publisheth Edicts for the retention of two religions in his Realme The Parlaments of Tours and Chaalons condemne the buls the Popes Nuntio and Legate In the meane while the Duke of Guise escapeth out of prison On the other side the king besiegeth and taketh Noyon Ouerthroweth the armie of Sauoy at Pontcharra entereth into Normandie whither he draweth the Duke of Parma when in the meane while the mutinous Parisians hang vp Brisson Archer and Tardif For reuenge of whose death foure of the principall seditious were dispatched out of the way 92. Arrest and decree of the Parliament of Roane against the king Discourse of the siege of Roane Disposition of the leaguers armie it is ioyned and fought withall being put to flight both by sea and land The ignominious retrait of the Duke of Parma Attempts by the league in diuers parts Bayon in vaine assailed by the Spaniards Amblize and the Lorraine leaguers discomfited by the Duke of Bouillon Ioyeuse ouerthrowne with his armie before Villemur Complaint by members
Tombe for the Kinges of France Of person hee was a goodly Prince courteous milde The description of king Henry the second louing his seruaunts and men of valour Much addicted to his pleasures and to beleeue such as knewe how to please his humour who many times caused him to vse muche rigour which hee could not so soone discouer the ambition and auarice of certaine men that prouoked him forwarde were the principall causes of the continuance of warres which heretofore we haue noted specially after the breache of truce set lawes Iustice Offices and benefices to sale diued into and emptied the purses of French men by infinit exactions whereof ensued most great mischiefs The estate of France vnder this Prince Two great sinnes raigned in France during the time of this Prince that is Atheisme and Magicque Whereunto may be added the corruption of learning For that the knowledge thereof induced by King Francis the first chaunged into diuers wicked and curious mindes cause of all mischiefe specially in the forme and phrase of French Poets who in the raigne of Henry by their impure rimes filled with all maner of blasphemies conuerted an infinit number of soules These sinnes and others in great abundance still increased drawing vpon both litle and great within the Realme of France the straunge punishments which in the raignes of the successors to this Henry full well appeared Fiue sonnes and fiue daughters By Catherin de Medicis his wife married in Anno. 1533 he had fiue sonnes and fiue daughters The eldest Francis the second borne the 20. of Ianuary 1543. The second Lois the Duke of Orleans that died at the ende of certaine months The third Charles Maxemilian borne the 20. of Iune 1550. King after the death of his brother The 4. Edward Alexandre after King and called Henry the third born the 19. of September 1551. The fift Hercules after called Francis Duke of Alencon Aniou and Berri and Counte du Maine borne the 18. of March 1554. The eldest daughter was Elizabeth promised to Edward the sixt King of England but marryed to Phillip king of Spaine borne the 11. of Aprill 1545. The second Claude maried to Charles Duke of Lorraine bonre the 12. of Nouember 1547. The third Margaret married to Henry de Bourbon King of Nauarre borne the 14. of May 1552. The fourth and fift named Iane and Victoire borne at one burthen vpon the 24. of Iune 1556 and died presently after In this Historie you may behold the successe and estate of the successors to this Henry beeing his sonnes with the first whereof I meane to begin Heere endeth the troubles that happened in the raigne of Henry the second Francis the second M.D.LIX. The intent of King Henrie KING Henry by the counsell giuen him touching the rupture of the truce and by that which after ensued hauing somewhat discouered who and which they were that gaue him euill aduise concerning his estate was minded and fully resolued after the solemnization of the marriages to looke more particularly into such men therby to retaine some and send the rest vnto the places frō whence they came But the wrath of God lay vppon the Realme hauing striken the head pursued the members as heereafter it appeareth Francis the second yong in aduise The state of France vnder Francis the second The Nobilitie The Courtiers much more in yeares was wholly left to the gouernment of his mother and the vncles of his wife that ruled the land as you shal heare Part of the Nobilitie wearied with the troubles of so long warres desired nought but peace leauing all care of publike charges and casting their eyes vppon the surest side thereon to lay hold The Courtiers went which way the winde would blowe as touching the officers of Iustice most of them were friends or subiects vnto diuers Lords some good and vpright men yet resting in the Court of Parliament durst not almost proceed in any thing as beeing abashed at the suddaine blowe giuen vnto the chiefe and principall Court of Parliament the last Mercurialist The Ecclesiasticall persons The Ecclesiasticall persons held and accounted them for principall Pillers of the Church that were the greatest burners As touching the third estate the great charges and troubles of warres forepast had wholly bereaued them of al liuely feeling and moouing Two parties In the Court were two parts the one those that held with the Constable the other the Guisians The Princes of the blood had almost no care of the Common-wealth nor yet of their owne affaires The Queene-mother an Italian Florentine of the familie of Medicis and one that in 22. yeares wherin she had continued in France had some good time to knowe the humours both of the one and the other and behaued her selfe in such sort that shee onely ruled Those of Guise Which to attaine and desiring wholly to driue away the Constable whom shee did most suspect shee held on the other side and placed seruants about the King of Nauarre by them to know and vnderstand his minde Assoone as king Henry was deceased the Duke of Guise and the Cardinall of Lorraine led the King and his brethren with the Queenes vnto the Louure leauing the Prince of the Blood the Constable the Marshall the Admirall with diuers other knights of the Order and Lords that held with the Constable to attend vppon the dead body The beginning of the raigne of this young Prince promised much when suddainly they beheld Francis Oliuier a man of great reputation Francis Oliuier restored to be Chancellor restored againe vnto his place of Chauncellor that had been put out of the place by meanes of the Duches of Valentinois that wholly ruled the deceased king they were in further hope whē they perceiued this Duches to be wholly out of credit for that assoone as he was dead they caused her to yeeld vp the keyes of the kings closet with all his precious Iewels that then were giuen vnto the Queene Regent But this was onely a particular quarrell betweene women for in truth the Duches during king Henries life had been in all mens sight as Queen of France The Queen-mother that hated her extreamly was very glad to see her wholly dispoyled and driuen out of the Court contenting her selfe therewith not to leese the fauour of those of Guise who although they onely had their aduancement by the Duches meanes perceiuing her to bee as a rotten plancke left her to pleasure themselues another way They sent Bertrand from whom the seales were taken vnto Rome and tooke from d'Auancon the ruling of the Treasures Bertrand keeper of the Seales discharged of his office neuerthelesse hee continued still in the Court as beeing too well acquainted with their affaires and as yet it was not necessary to compell him to accept of any new partie The Marshall of S. Andre aduanced by the fauours of King Henry to whom he was a secret seruant and wholly
those of the religion whose goods were taken from them was maruellous as well in that Towne as others in Bourgongne as also in other Townes and Prouinces of the Realme The one and twentieth of Iune the house of one of the principall of the Citie was forced and sacked In the moneth ensuing diuers meanes were vsed to cause such as were lest to abiure the religion some remained firme In the beginning of October the Parliament of Dyon assayed to commit some of them prisoners and summoned the rest to appeare and such as appeared at Dyon although innocent were hardly handled others had diuers aduentures and some yet very fewe wounded and slaine So that in Beaune there were not aboue two men and some women of great reputation that made open profession of the religion by the support of their assistance Those of the religion in Mascon vppon the thirteenth of May made themselues the strongest yet without effusion of blood and three daies after Mascon the Images were beaten downe as they had beene at Lyons although the Ministers and auncients were of the contrary aduise Mombrun hauing left Chalon and come downe to Mascon put the Inhabitants in such feare that many of them were of opinion to leaue the Towne Wherevpon Tauanes First siege who not long before had made them many gracious offers came before the Towne minding to enter which the people denyed which caused him to assemble all his forces and vppon the third of Iune besieged the Towne his armie being Bourguignons of the Counte euery man wearing a red scarse which was an occasion that the Towns-men shewed the Kings Councell that it was no reason that they beeing his naturall subiectes desiring to liue peaceably according to his edicts should bee constrained to open their Gates vnto Tauanes beeing accompanied with straungers enemies to the Crowne and for many causes suspected vnto them Wherevppon letters were sent vnto Tauanes who withdrewe himselfe in such sort that not long after hauing receiued an other packet hee sought to cease vppon the Gates vnder the Towne whereof hee sayled hauing receiued a hard repulse And as hee made preparation for a second siege those of Lyons sent Monsieur d'Entrages to ayde the Towne who by his conduction made many sallies and braue skirmishes Second siege which notwithstanding Tauanes caused his trenches vppon the one side of the Towne and the third of Iuly wanne the Subburbes of S. Lawrenre the next day making such a batterie that in lesse then two houres all their defences lay vppon the ground And the same day one Mussy seruant to Tauanes was hanged within the Towne for enterprising to cause the towne to bee surprised Not long after Entrages beeing summoned to yeeld made aunswere that if hee had the Maister in his handes hee would cause him to passe the same way his seruant Mussy had done which set Tauanes in such a rage that besides fifteen or sixteene hundreth shotte made against a Tower they shot diuers hundreth times against the breach whereby diuers men were slaine and maimed But the resolution of the assieged hindred Tauanes from approaching and contenting himselfe to send twelue souldiers to viewe the breach sixe of them were slaine and about eleuen of the clocke at night thirtie souldiers issuing out of the Towne cut the throates of certaine Sentinelles and entered so farre as to the Artillerie to trie if they could stop it which they had done if Tauanes in person had not come thither The next day although the Tower so much beaten and defaced had opened a new breach vnto Tauanes yet hee stirred not but to the contrary making shewe in great haste to returne into Bourgongne suddainly raysed his campe leauing certaine thinges of powder behinde him with an ambuscado if those of the Town had offered to come forth but Entrages beeing a polliticke souldier and one that had not many men to loose suffered not his souldiers to issue Tauanes thereby beeing deceiued lodged his troupes not farre from thence and went vppe againe to Chalon where certaine troupes of Dauphine came to meete him At that time it chanced that two Sheriffes of Mascon hauing by their authoritie in the night time laden certaine boates with the reliques of gold and siluer and other ornaments of the Temple of S. Vincents in Mascon minding to carrie and sell them in Lyons Reliques taken for booty beeing two or three leagues off were discouered by one named Saint Poinct who being ayded by certaine Gentlemen of Dauphine and a good troupe of footemen passed the riuer aboue Belleuille and setting vppon the boates tooke them and became Maisters of all that was within them valewed at the least to the summe of thirtie or fortie thousand frankes The Challices and Images of golde and siluer were broken and parted between S. Poinct and his companions although they termed themselues Romish Catholicques Wherevppon a young Lacquey came to Gascon who hauing falsely charged two Captaines was hanged but the souldiers of those two Captaines beganne to mutin because their leaders had been committed to prison vsing many threatning speeches This beeing appeased Entrages saying he would make a generall muster in a plaine hard by the Towne caused those two companies of mutinous fellowes first to issue forth Belleuille defended by astraunge accident which done he shut the Gates vppon them by which meanes beeing constrained to take the other part they went to Belleuille that held for the religion and arriued therein in good time vppon the 28. of Iuly for that the next morning before the breake of the day S. Poinct with sixe or seuen hundreth foote and two hundreth horse and the Pesants of the countrie besieged the Towne thinking to enter therein without resistance But approaching neare the walles and by chance discouered by the one that rose somewhat early they were so hardly receiued by the souldieis of Mascon that they were cōstrained to retire with shame and great losse to reuenge themselues they draue away the beastes of diuers Farmes and sacked the house of a rich Pesant whom they massacred and cast his bodie into the Soane but his bodie was taken vppe and buried in Belleuille How the Queene mother her Regency Hitherto I haue shewed the estate of the particular Prouinces of France during these first troubles now let vs returne againe vnto the Court The Queene beeing deliuered out of the hands of the Triumuirat to assure her authoritie and to hold the greatest personages in some stay thereby to serue her turne by some of them to checke the rest first shee iuested the young Duke of Guise with the estates and offices of his father and to appease the Parisians much greeued for his death shee deliuered Poltrot vnto them that was executed with as greeuous punishment as if hee had slaine the king himselfe which done something was to bee done for the appeasing of those of the religion that had been spoyled massacred as you haue heard The
that hee died immediately To be briefe the Protestants tooke from them all that they held about Rochel excrept Saint Iohn d'Angely where they nestled themselues The Barron de la Garde had for a while kept the sea with his Gallies but hearing of the taking of Bronage hee retired toward Bourdeaux whilest Sore for the Princes scoured the Ocean where hee daily light vppon some bootie Among other his exployts about the beginning of Iuly hee tooke a Portugall shippe laden among other marchandize with some fortie Iesuites that were trauelling toward India but they were stayed and the most part leaped ouer-boord This victorious successe of the Protestants in Poictou and Xaintongne were the occasion that to preuent any greater conquests the Prince d'Auphin was appoynted to come down into Poictou there to reassemble Puigaillards forces which now hopped but vpon one legge Succourd deputed for Puigaillard and those of the Countie of Lude to the end to come to some new practise The eleuenth of August after the two great armies lying about the riuer of Loire newes was brought vnto them of a peace agreed vpon between the king and the Princes all precedent modifications and restrictions abolilished the second Edict of peace confirmed and allowed The 3. Edict of peace this peace was receiued of all men with hope of revnion betweene the two parties through all the Realme The peace published in the Campes and Townes the armies were discharged assoone as they had conducted their straungers into Lorraine and the Princes accompanied with Countie Lodowicke in the beginning of October returned to Rochel the king by the Edict granted foure Townes Rochel Montauban Cognac and la Charite Townes for assurance to bee kept in the Princes names for the space of two whole yeares for assurance of this third Edict of pacification in the pursuite whereof Teligny after sonne in lawe to the Admiral and Beauuais la Nocle imployed themselues most faithfully with great credite and reputation of all men Touching the Admirall if there were any Commaunder on both sides that desired peace it was hee as by letters dated the second of March at Montreal hard by Carcassonne written to the king the Queen and the Duke of Anion appeared For being friend to militarie discipline abolished in those miserable ciuill warres and enemie of vices oftentimes beholding such disorder hee said that if it pleased God to send peace in France hee would desire to die a thousand deaths rather then to fall againe into those confusions The Admirall desireth peace and once againe to see such mischiefes leauing to all the rest of the commanders the praise which they obtained if in ciuil wars praise may be giuen it may be said that the Admiral trauelled much both in bodie mind hauing sustained the heauiest part of the affairs of the wars with much cōstancie fidelitie facilitie and behauing himselfe with as great reuerence towards the Princes his superiours as modestie to his inferiors he neuer spake of the king the Queen the Duke of Aniou and those whom hee knew to bee his capitall enemies but with honour without subtiltie or counterfeit speeches beeing the man among all those of the religion specially among the Commaunders in the warre who in a speciall manner reposed himselfe vppon the prouidence of God The prisoners that fell into his hands were fauourably vsed by him as courteous when hee had put vp his swoord as fierce when he held it naked in hand Pittie by him was alwaies had in singular cōmendation as also loue to iustice wherein hee continued both priuate and publike in time of peace and warre vntill hee died which made him both esteemed and honored by those whose part hee held Hee sought not ambitiously to haue commaundements and honours but shunning them hee was constrained to accept them by reason of his wisedome good gouernment in mannaging armes it might well be seene that hee had as good knowledge therein as any Captaine of his time and alwaies exposed himself couragiously in any dangers wise in counsell and valiant in fight in aduersities magnanimious and adorned with wisedome to auoydethem And to conclude hee was a man most woorthie and fitte to restore and re-establish a feeble and corrupt estate but it appeared in an vnfit time and that which after happened vnto him she weth an exterior apparance that vertue is but hardly assured heere on earth Peace concluded and published as it hath beene said the Admirall Teligny la Noue and diuers others withdrew themselues neare vnto the Princes in Rochel there with more securitie to attend the aduancement and execution of the Edict They put Garrison for the Princes in the Townes of assurance except in Rochell which was maintained in her auncient priuiledges The Emperour Maximilian the second not long after married his eldest daughter to Phillip king of Spaine his brother in lawe So that the vncle married the Neece The king married to Elizabeth of Austria Elizabeth his youngest daughter was after giuen in marriage to king Charles the ninth whom hee espoused in the Towne of Mezieres about the end of Nouember and the foure and twentieth of December going to Parris at Villiers coste Rez hee gaue audience to the Ambassadors of Almaine that desired vnto he made an answere that contented them wherewith they were honourably discharged About the same time the Princes exhibited sundrie complaints concerning the Edict by the hands of Briquemaut Teligny Beauuais la Nocle and Cauagnes Teligny was the chiefe Agent and seemed to bee highly in the kings fauour to whom he propounded the complaints of the Protestants wherevpon the king sent forth sundrie Commissioners throghout al the Prouinces of his kindome among other the Marshal de Cosse togither with Proutiere Maister of Requests who made a voyage to Rochel as well to conferre with the Queene and Admirall concerning some conuenient means to maintaine the realme in peace as for other matters that we will shortly speake of The first of Ianuary there beganne a conference betweene the Marshall de Cosse and la Proutiere with the Admirall and other Deputies for the Queen of Nauarre and the Princes at Rochel Proceeding with the Q. of Nauarre the Princes the Admiral and those of the religion in the second yeres of peace that the third edict of pacification continued touching the difficulties and interpretations of diuers articles of the Edict On both sides complaints were made touching the infraction thereof with long replies whereof ensued certaine resolutions that were to bee sent vnto the king I his assembly serued for a couerture to a parley of a marriage betweene Henry de Bourbon Prince of Nauarre and Ladie Margaret sister to the king as also to a conference with the Admirall touching the warre which the king said hee would beginne against the king of Spaine in the lowe Countries And all this propounded and deuised to drawe the Queene of Nauarre the Princes and the Admirall to the
in disobedience to maintaine religion the easing of the people Nor better nor fairer pretence to open the eies hearts and purses of such men to enterprise warre could not be found At the same time the king had sent vnto the Princes for the restitution of the Towns which they held for the obseruation of the last edict of peace which they were to yeelde vp at the end of 6. yeares But because the king of Nauarre sent word vnto his Maiestie Prolongation of the time of the townes of assurance 1582. that the peace hauing so often been broken by surprises and open warres the termed of 6. yeares was too short a time for the execution of the Edict and abollishing of wars he agreed to the prolongation thereof Wherevpon all the Princes of the league tooke occasion to say that the king fauoured Hereticques and that he would indure heresie and considered not that those Townes were inhabited by Huguenots strong of scituation hard to be won by force When the king of Nauarre perceiued those motions and that some matter was breeding he foresawe the tempest wold light vpon him what pretence soeuer was made therevpon he besought the king to call to minde the intelligences hee had giuen him in Anno. 1576. sent expresly by a Gentleman concerning the treatie and handling of the league in Spaine and Italie that he shuld looke to the profite of the myne seeing it was discouered And perceiuing the enterprise euery day more and more to proceed he began to take care of himselfe sent the Lord of Pardillan to the Queen of England the king of Denmarke and the Princes and Electors of Almaine to renue amitie with them desiring their aydes touching the preuenting of new troubles that began to rise in France against the edict of peace to appoynt a good sum of mony to bee sent vnto some Towne in Allemaine to bee imployed for the leuying of certaine forces against the enemie In the mean time for the aduantage of the league but to the great trouble and mischiefe of all the Realme of France The death of the Duke of Alencon in Iune 1584. Monsieur the kings brother eyther by his riotousnesse in the lowe countries for greefe of the hard successe of his affaires by hazard or by Salcedas means that was executed died at Chasteau Thierry His death awakened the most drousie heads it brake all the bandes that stayed the proceedings of the league and caused it presently to roare at Chaalons Rheims Troye Dyon and Mezieres It had alreadie found credite ynough in all the other Towns specially at Parris wherein they were diswaded from the yoake of the Huguenots and the hope of the king of Nauarre to rule ouer them The first point of the loue to the king was alreadie foundred in her hart she spake not of him but with al kinde of disdaine euery day presented him with the opinions and censures of Pasquils indiscreet ieasts and libels without names wherein corrupt minds alreadie stuffed with the disorders of the Court swallowed vp the poyson of their mutinies vnder what pretence I knowe not speaking of the king as of a Sardanapalus or one that did nothing The kings deuise Manet vltime Coelo Qui dedit ante Duas vnam abstulit alcera nutat Tertia tonsoris nunc facienda manu of a Prince drowned in his pleasures and delights whom alreadie they placed like a Chilperic in a Monastrie and in stead of the third Crown which by his deuise was reserued for him in heauen they promised him one made with a raisor in a Cloyster But hee that would knowe the first conception birth and infancie of the league within Parris hee must beleeue that which Manant saith to Maheustre that speaketh like a wise man and by the propositions and answeres representeth all those that deale therein and for the first hee nameth him that was the secret Minister of the leaguers intent to make it known to three Preachers that tooke seuen or eight Coaintors with them thereby to make a small Councell which was oftentimes holtors within the Colledge of Forteret where they beganne to chuse sixe others of the most faithfull The Colledge of Forteret was the cradle of the league The sixe first confederates of the league to watch at all the sixe quarters to report what was done in those places to sowe this new graine within their heads to sound the affections of the most feruent Catholicques and to dispose them to a resolution against the king the world and death Those sixe Arch-leaguers in the beginning made a faire and great Haruest and as with the number courage increased The principall leaguers were assured that those new confederates would ingender others presently therevppon the two pillers that sustaine and vphold the Prince which are the most faithfull Archers of his Court of guard that is good will and authoritie were thrown downe hatred and despight entering into their places Of those two plagues as of a monsterous blood was conceiued and brought foorth most disloyall rebellion and the despising of the lawe and the authoritie of the Prince mixed with the euill minde which the people bare to their king his Councell and his fauourers hatched this great Erynnis and furious mischiefe in France that hath entered into all the vaines of our bodie But alasse poore people what will you do what example what commandement what iust reason mooueth or assureth you to arme your selues against your king What lawe approoueth the rebellion of the subiect against him whom God hath appoynted your king If there be any imperfection or disorder are you to correct it or can the foote ordaine a lawe for the head It is no more lawfull for you to resist against the faults or imperfections of your Gouernours then to despight God and aske him the cause of the frosts and hailes that beat spoyled your vines Stay you little snayles within your shels come not foorth you torteaux out of the cases vnder them you are assured for you shall no sooner put forth your heads nor stretche out a foote but presently be assayled lie opē to your enemies readie to receiue the first blowe that shal be giuen Assoone as the league perceiued that diuers townes had made great fires for ioy of her birth it was presented to the Pope that he might giue it his blessing auouch it for his and declare it to bee for the Catholicke Apostolike and Romish Church But Gregory the 13. desiring to shewe himselfe to bee the common father of all Christians and Pastor not dispearser of his flocke Pope Gregory would nener consent to this raising of men The answere of the Pope vnto the league considering that the raising of armes against a most Christian and Catholicque king was wholly contrarie to the doctrine of the Gospell the examples of Christ and his Apostles and the lawes of pollicie and state certified the leaguers Deputies that he
humbled himselfe vnto the meaner sort as hee passed through the streetes with his hat in hand saluting euery man eyther with head hand or speech The greatnesse of his thoughts Caezar durst conceiue in his minde and then execute his thought to make himselfe perpetuall Dictator and to vsurpe the soueraigntie of the Common-wealth The Duke of Guise with as much courage lesse reason and more danger then Caezar enterprised to be king or wholly to be ouerthrowne His boasts Caezar vaunted to haue made Rome the Queene of the world a name without forme or bodie The Duke of Guise by the league taking away both order and royaltie beeing the forme of this Realme and that which made it flourish might well say that hee had made France without life His exercise Caezar loued Astrologie the Duke of Guise beleeued the Astrologians that assured him of his greatnesse of the kings death of the death of the house of Bourbon promising him that the Crowne should change families and from the Capets should fall into the house of Austria His minde could not indure much apprchension Caezar could not indure the apprehension of conspiracies deuised against him and said that hee had rather die then to liue long in distrust esteeming that death which is least doubted to bee best the Duke of Guise desired rather a fall that might be the end of his miseries then a continuall daunger He despised the aduise of death Caezar despised the aduise giuen him touching the conspiracie of Brutus the Duke of Guise esteemed it fables that was told him touching the mischiefe that fell vppon him and could not bee perswaded that hee should so soone end his triumphs Haruspices praemonuerant vt dâ—â—gentissime Iduum Martiarum caucret diâ—m Velleius Pater Lâ—belli coniurationè nunciantes â—â—ats abconeque protinus lectierant Velleius Pater His death His Sepulchre Guisius Cezar medio perite sedio perite senatu The years of his death Sydus Iul. Hob. Sar. lib. 8. Ennead 6. Caezar would not read his friends letters that aduertised him of the enterprise practised against his person The Duke of Cuise iested at the letters written vnto him from all parts and saide that it was done at the leaft thirtie times euery day Caezar was slaine with blowes of rapiers the Duke of Guise with poinyards Caezar fell dead at the feete of the Image of Pompey whom hee had so cruelly pursued The Duke of Guise died at the kings chamber doore where hee had made so many brauadoes and so much despising of the kings authoritie Caezar had the fire for his sepulchre the bodie of the Duke of Guise was burnt Caezar was slaine in the Senat the Duke of Guise at the Parliament when hee came out of the Councell chamber Caezar died in the 56. yeare of his age in his climaticke yeare and vpon his birth day The Duke of Guise in the 42. yeare which was likewise his climaticall yeare Caezar was accounted among the Gods and so esteemed of by the common people the league cannonized and honoured the Duke of Guise with the name of Marter and were long time in doubt if praying for him they should do wrong to the holinesse of his condition beeing freed from the paines in the other world Caezar debaucha Cleopatra Heere I will end the comparison of the hearts and humors of those two Princes and touching nothing of the sobrietie courtesie affabilitie and familiaritie that was equally both in the one and the other nor yet of that amorous complection that so much resembled Caezar and auanced the mischiefe and troubles of France And touching the end of the Duke of Guise I say that as themnrther of the Dictator Caezar serued for a protext vnto Anthony Augustines to ouerthrow the Commonwealth of Rome so this death of the Duke of Guise put weapon into the hands of the Duke de Maine like Anthony to destroy both himselfe and his countrie Beeing at Lyons hee receiued the newes of the death of the Duke of Guise and the imprisonment of the Cardinall his bretheren vpon Christmas day at night said nothing vntil the next day in the morning that he went froÌ„ the Archbishops Pallace where he was lodged to Saint Nisier and there finding the Officiall of the Archbishop pricke of Lyons tolde him hee was desirous to walke a turne or two along the painted Gallerie Thither he sent for Monsieur Bothcon the Marquesse of Vrfe and certaine of the principall officers of the Towne shewing them what had been done in Blois against the persons of his bretheren and of the imprisonment of the Cardinall of Bourbon the Archbishop of Lyons and others This accident made the assistants so much abashed that they all stood in a maze some of them thinking more vppon the manner then the matter and more vppon the authoritie of the estates then vppon the kings collor Others what assurance soeuer they had of ayde to bee readie to be imployed at all assayes yet were they constrained to shrinke in the shouldier They iudged the wound to bee great and that it would bee hard vppon the suddain to finde a fit playster such as without inspiration had foreshewed that the king would bee reuenged of the Duke of Guise for his ouer great boldnesse and the day of the Barricadoes had alreadie disisted the astonishment of that blowe The Duke de Maine thinking vpon the death of his brother forgot not his own safetie asking them if that staying in the towne of Lyons he might beassured of his life they besought him to moue his seruants in that which should bee against the kings will and pleasure to whom they were bound and priuately to all others could acknowledge no other soueraigne then hee The Officiall of Lyons that had knowne his nature to bee more stayed and lesse ambitious desired him not to arme himselfe against his king who without all doubt would receiue him into fauour The Duke de Maine counselled not to arme himselfe when hee should once perceiue him to referre the desire of his reuenge to reason good discretion and not preferre the interest of his house before the benefit of the whole Realme of France which trembled at the apprehension of the calamities that this warre will draw on That he should aduise himselfe before he passed the Rubicon into what daunger hee would fall the good and quiet estate that hee should leaue behinde him that to set the people at libertie hee would abandon it to the spoyle that to defend the Monarchie against the king hee should make him the head of a confused and monstrous Monarchie against the lawes of the Realme that God will neuer abandon the protections of Kings how vnagreeable so euer they be vnto him against the rebellion of the people for kings are the image of God the children of heauen Gods among men and whosoeuer armeth himselfe against them striueth against God Then hee foreshewed him that if
bound to giue iudgement according vnto the lawes as they haue sworne and promised at their admitting Neuerthelesse part of the Iudges at this day haue so great a pride in themselues that they affirme themselues not to bee bound to iudge according to the laws written by the Iurisconsules that they are not bound to the imperiall lawes but onely in those poynts which they find not decided by the ordinances royall which haue handled but fewe causes touching lawe but onely containe certaine generall constitutions they will iudge according to their owne equities and therein as euery mans wit and sence serueth him so many heades so many opinions so many soueraigne Courts so many sentences and iudgements Frō thēce proceedeth the cōtrarietie of sentēces diuersitie of iudgemēts in one cause and in one matter whereby the poore suters fall into an infinit of charges and continuall sutes This mischiefe happeneth many times by the ignorance of youth which runne to ruine by presumption and philautie for that such as are learned in the lawes and that haue a good conscience take paines to satisfie their offices and to limit their zeale of iustice according to conscience and the doctrine they haue attained vnto Otherwise there should bee no difference betweene the Iudge and the Artificer but onely in the gowne and the cappe togither with their pattents receiued from the king Remedie This sore cannot bee healed but by good and faithfull examiners in soueraigne Courts for they do lightly prooue and sound the depth of the learning of such as present themselues to bee admitted they throwe iustice and the subiects of this Realme into the waters and puddles of errors and ignorances from whence they cannot get out But if it were permitted vnto young men by their Parents to studie the time in that case appoynted without taking them from the Vniuersities as fruite from a tree before it is ripe to place them in the seate of Iustice this would bee a great meanes to make them capable but the ambition of fathers at this day is so great and they are in such feare to leaue their children without offices that they had rather therein see them vnwoorthie and deridid then wise and honoured which partly to remedie all reuersions must bee cut off and no more graunted The sale of Offices 5. Disorder The corruption that is vsed in iustice by the sale and infamous building of offices belonging to the same a great shame to this estate and in our time time wherein this Realme onely among all Monarchies and Potentates yea the most barbarous iustice and the Iustices office is solde by publike authoritie and giuen to him that offereth most although he be the most vnwoorthie The excuse is made vppon the publike necessitie of this Realme as if the sale of offices the mony whereof for the most part is disposed and goeth to the receiuers that inrich them that smal summe which is clearely left can be so great maintenance to the Realme from this first sale of offices which is done by publike authoritie ensueth a consequence which seemeth to bee naturall yet very euill that whosoeuer hath bought an office by great may sell iustice by retale to make vp his mony From thence proceedeth the corruption of Iudges that euen as at the entery into their offices they are forsworne affirming that they neither gaue nor payde any mony to attaine the same they become much more periured in their consciences betraying and selling iustice drawing vppon them the curse of Iudas the perpetuall trembling of Cain and the Leprosie of Ciesi with other such like executions and maledictions It is the corruption and damnation of the wicked Iudges which maketh honest men abstaine from the places and yet some of them how honest soeuer they shewe they haue some sparke of couetous desire to handle spices and sweete sugar yet much more bitter then the hony of Sarde And as this sale of offices hath increased a great number of Iudges Councellors Atturneyes Clarkes and Soliciters whereof there are so many that make their aduantage by sucking the treasure blood of the people that it is well knowne that lawe costeth the people of this Realme twise as much more as all the tallages and not onely the common people but also the Nobilitie and great personages whereby many good houses are ouerthrowne Remedie Is the reducing and surprising of this great number of Iudges to the ancient iust and first number and the interdiction of the sale of offices by publike and perpetuall lawe The Archbishop of Bourges hauing set downe the other disorders that spring and haue their issues out of the first he besought the king to take order therein by a good and perfect reformation which shall cause the people to increase iustice to flourish and assure the tranquilitie of this Realme to make it continue as long as the moone continueth in the Elements and so hee ended his Oration The Oration for the Nobilitie The same day Charles de Cosse Counte de Brissac Lord of Estland Great-Panetier and Falconer of France who after the death of the Duke of Guise had reobtained the kings fauour and continued in the honour which before hee had to bee President of the Nobilitie of France beganne his Oration and hauing excused his insufficiencie he assured himselfe that the king considering that the profession of a Gentleman consisteth more in deede then in word hee would with his Graces fauour couer the imperfection of his discourse and that as in the disputation betweene two Musitions Piton and Cephiseus Pirrus gaue iudgement that Pelibercon was the better Captaine so his Maiestie hearing the thundering eloquence of Monsieur de Bourges and Monsieur Bernard would iudge him but to be a souldier which done hee saide That the long raigne of the king had sufficiently shewen that it is not the hand of fortune that haue inuironed the forehead of his Maiestie with a double Diademe but God that hath established him for our King and that before chose him for Monarch of a people further distant not for the greatnesse of his royall linage nor for the vniuersall signes and tokens of the valour of Frenchmen but for the pietie faith clemencie and magnanimitie wherewith it hath pleased his gracious goodnesse to haue adorned his Maiestie in his most tender yeares That it is sufficiently knowne that in his raigne onely the heauens haue not permitted the birth of so many mischiefes but that during the times of great kings his predecessors heresie schisme disorder and diuision hath entered into the peoples hearts and that we must beleeue that God hath caused him to bee borne in the middle of the troubles of France reseruing vnto him that hath supported the paines and trauels the honor and glory vnto so iust a labour to the end that by the hands of so famous a Prince France hauing prostrated it selfe vnto the furies of hereticques may not onely be succoured but reuenged not
decree made containing these words The Court hath repealed reuoked and disanuled and by these presents doth repeale reuoke and disanul all those bulles of the legation of Cardinall Caietan and those other buls brought from Rome the first of March proceedings publications excommunications and thundrings made by Marcillius Landriano the Popes aforesaid Nuutio as false scandalous seditious full of corruption and madde against the holy decrees cannonicall constitutions approoued councels and against all the rights and liberties of the Gallican Church Haue ordained and by these presents do ordaine that if any haue been excommunicated by vertue of the aforesaid proceedings they are absolued thereof and that the said bulles and all the proceedings made by vertue of them shall bee burned in the Market-place of this Cittie by the hands of the executioner Againe it is ordained that the said Landriano the Popes pretended Nuntio entering priuily into this Realme without the kings leaue or licence shal bee personally taken and conueyed to the kings prison in this Cittie of Chaalons there to aunswere to all such things as shall bee alleadged against him And if his taking and apprehention cannot presently bee there shall be three daies libertie giuen for the same according to the accustomed manner And to him that shall deliuer him vp to the lawe shall bee giuen tenne thousand pound Straightly charging and forbidding all person persons of what estate qualitie or condition soeuer they bee to keepe receiue succour or harbour the saide pretended Nuntio on paine of death And all Archbishoppes Bishoppes and all other Ecclesiasticall persons to receiue nor publish nor suffer to be published any sentences or proceedings comming in the behalfe of the foresaid Nuntio vppon paine to bee punished as in case of high treason Also it is declared and we do declare the Cardinals beeing at Rome Archbishops and all all other Ecclesiasticall persons that haue counselled and signed the said bull and excommunication and that haue allowed that most inhumane most abhominable most detestable parriside traiterously committed on the person of the foresaid deceased Lord Henry the third the most Christian and the most Catholicque king of France worthily cast off from the pocession of those benefices held by them within this Realme Inioyning the Atturney generall to seize them into the kings hands and there to establish good and sufficient Commissioners forbidding all other his subiects to carrie or send gold or siluer to Rome or to sue to the Pope for the obtaining of benifices vntill it shall bee otherwise ordered by the king And the act of appeale shall be by the Atturney generall deferred vntil the next Councell lawfully assembled by Pope Gregorie the fourteenth c. The Parliament at Tours proclaimed the same decree adding moreouer in theirs these words VVee haue proclaimed and do proclaime Pope Gregorrie the 14. of that name an enemie to the common peace to the vnion of the Romain Catholicke Church to the King and to his royall estate adherent to the conspiracie of Spaine a fauourer of rebels guiltie of the most cruell most inhumane and most detestable Parriside traiterously committed on the person of Henry the third of most famous most Christian and most Catholicque memorie Certaine months after and about the end of the yeare the parliament of the League at Paris condemned and caused all those decrees to be burned which were giuen out against the Popes bulles and the Ministers of that sea As for Landriano and the Legat they were kept close and secret Finally after they had beene well feed they got safely out of France through the kings mercifull fauour carrying away great booties whereof they had small ioy because that soone after their returne they died The most part of the prisoners of Blois who then with the Duke and Cardinall of Guise should haue beene done to death escaped away some after one sort and some after another But one of their principalll men remained stil vnder sure gard in the Castle of Tours that is to say the Duke of Guise whom the multitude of the Leaguers and diuers Parisians did greatly desire saying many times that if after the death of his father and before the comming of his vncle de Maine hee had beene within Paris that of a certaine they had carried him to Reimes sacred and crowned king of France But his keepers held him sure ynough from them for the kings Councellours would not that the seditious should haue so fit a subiect to worke vppon nor such store of wood and oyle to increase the flames of their sedition On the other side the Duke de Maine hauing obtained his new title to bee Lieftenant generall of the estate and Crown of France desired not that his Nephewe should bee at more libertie Neither was the royall throne and seat bigge ynough for two to sit in and hee which was alreadie setled would not come downe to suffer a younger then himselfe to ascend thereinto Diuers other of the principall men of the League willing to counterchecke the Duke de Maine did all that possibly they could to preferre his young Nephew but all in vaine When the Kings Councell saw fit time to thwart the Dukes of Maine and Nemours which by diuers slights did daily robbe the Crowne as also diuers other straungers did would notwithstanding set on them againe and seeke to destroy the one by the other they caused their affaiers to bee so disposed for the keeping of this person that the Duke of Guise escaped the fifteenth day of August by a cord which was giuen him The Duke of Guise escapeth out of prison wherewith sliding down out of one of the windowes hee went quite away There was but small running after him who hauing found all things readie for his conueyance tooke his way to the Lord de la Chastre who kept him in a sure place Those which iudged not but superficially of these things namely the Leaguers made bonfires for ioye of this escape supposing that this young Prince should be so well prouided for that he should bee made king for the holy vnion But the Lieftenant generall his vncle and certaine others pretending to beare away the best part in that peece were of an other minde Noyon besieged and taken by the king The King all this while slept not hauing the selfe same moneth besieged Noyon a towne in Picardie held by the league and hauing ouerthrown by foure assaults the succours which the League had sent them slaine the most resolute men of war on their side taken a great number of prisoners put the rest to flight and constrained the besieged to yeelde The Duke de Maine with the Lords of Belin Vitri d'Alincourt and others had a great minde to set vppon Mante thinking to withdraw the king and afterward assayed to force the Switzers of Soleurre lodged at Houdan but all in vaine as also was their comming to Noyon For the king beeing neuer mooued with their bragges followed
quallitie soeuer they bee not to hearken to the poysoning inchantments of such rebellious and seditious persons but to continue the dutie of good and naturall Frenchmen and alwaies keepe and hold the loue and affection due to their king and countrie and not to holde with the deceits of such which vnder pretence of religion would spoyle the estate bring in barbarous Spaniards and other vsurpers Giuing most straight charge and commaundemen vnto all persons whatsoeuer neither to receiue nor keep in their houses or about them the said bull or to publish the same neither to assist or fauour the saide rebelles nor yet to assemble themselues to any Townes or places which might be appoynted or chosen for the foresaid pretended election vpon pain to the Nobilitie to bee disgraded of their honours and to bee proclaimed infamous both they and their posteritie for euer And to the Clargie to bee depriued thrust out of their possessions and benifices and to be punished togither for this their offence as traitors and disturbers of the publicke quiet and royall prerogatiue of their countrie without all hope to obtaine in such a case any fauour or pardon whatsoeuer And the like paine we pronounce to all townes that shall receiue the said rebels and seditious persons for the making of the said assembly or that doth lodge retaine or succour them And the said Court doth further ordaine that the place where the said deliberation shall bee kept togither with the Towne where the said assembly shall bee made shall bee raced and destroyed from the toppe to the bottome without all hope to haue it reedified or builded any more for a perpetuall remembrance to all posterities of their treason disloyaltie and vnfaithfulnesse joyning all persons to assault all those which shall repaire to the saide Cittie to bee present in that assembly And there shall be commission deliuered to the said Atturney generall to informe against all such as haue been the authors and procurers of such monopolies and conspiracies made against the estate and that haue fauoured or assisted them And this present Edict shall bee published by sound of trumpet and publickly proclaimed in all places of this Towne and sent to all places of this precinct there to bee red published and registred by the diligence of the substitudes belonging to the Atturney generall whereof they shall certifie the Court within one moneth on paine to loose their Offices for the contrarie The leaguers despising the kings authoritie flowted at the Edict of this Parliament and called the Deputies from all parts of the Prouinces and confederate Townes to bee present with the estates at Paris As for the chiefe and principall each one had a seuerall purpose beeing desirous to bee seated in their Soueraignes chaire without hauing any minde to bee seruants or fellows in this Anarchie maintained by them with the helpe of the double Pistolles of Spaine It came to passe in the moneth of Nouember that the Lord of Vaugrenan commanding for the king within the Towne of S. Iohn Delaune in Bourgondie ouerthrew seuenteene companies of footemen hard by the Towne of Diion wonne their colours weapons and other furniture Amongst the packets and coffers of the Barron de Tenissé who was a great leaguer and chiefe commaunder of these troupes were found certaine instructions and commissions which were sent from the Duke de Nemours to the said Barron to conferre with the Duke de Maine to this ende that Nemours might bee elected king by the estates of Parris This young Prince aymed at no other thing but soueraigntie and beeing misled by certaine euill Councellours which hee kept planted at Lyon and thereabout the foundations of his loftie purposes for the accomplishing whereof an hundreth yeares would bee farre too little but hauing builded vpon sand in fewe moneths his edefices fell downe wherewith he was confounded Now as the leaguers were promised great thinges by their estates of Parris and the partakers of Spaine held it for a most certaine troth that the Duke of Parma would returne yet the third time with puissant forces to doo some notable exployt thereby to couer the shame of his two former voyages and so to assure the Crowne of France to king Philip or to the Princesse his daughter The death of the Duke of Parma But death cut off the thrid of his life togither with his enterprises the second of December 1592. Many men thought that this blowe would rent those patches wherewith the league was attired But the Duke de Maine beeing deliuered of him of whom hee stood in doubt supposed that now the time presented it selfe wherein hee might bring his long desired purpose to effect heerevpon hee raised his Cornets of horse and did more mischiefe to Paris then before A little before these newes came hee gaue some eare to the conditions of peace which had beene happie for him if some euill counsell had not turned his mind from the same But the decease of him by whom he was ouer awed caused his humour to bee changed imagining that hee should shortly haue the title to bee Lieftenant generall to the King of Spaine in the conquest of France Therefore one of his attempts was to create the Lord de Rosne one of is chiefe familiars Marshall of France and Gouernor of the Isle of France constraining the Presidents and Councellors inclosed in Paris to receiue this Rosne into two offices which appertained to a Lord of a higher blood and estate The Parisians which before spake openly of peace and agreement durst now speake no more thereof except in secret In the feast of Christmas the Duke de Maine caused those decrees which were lately made at Chaalons against the bull of the Popes Legat to bee openly burned vpon the steps of his Pallace the Citie beeing all in armes Also the Dukes of Guise of Maine of Nemours of Sauoye the Marques of Pont wrought diuers slights to bee aduanced in the election The King of Spaine by his Agents did as much on the other side asuring himselfe that as hee had made many of the Leaguers his Pentioners so also knewe hee well that in time hee should finde opportunitie to ouerthrow and bring them all to destruction one after another and to make himselfe the absolute and supreme Lord. During these practises the king was fully resolued to assemble the principall Peeres of his Realme at Chartres to prouide and thinke vpon remedies against those euils which now beganne to present it selfe The warres continued in diuers Prouinces but slowly except in Lorraine where the Marshal de Bouillon tooke by plaine force and by a maruellous incounter the strong Towne of Dun vppon Meuse a little aboue Stenay and droue thence those of Lorraine The Duke de Maine publisheth a proclamation against the king Now for the closing vp of this yeare in the same moneth of December the Duke de Maine published a great writing intituled A declaration for the vniting againe
of the league and resistance made by the heads Arrest of the Parliament of Chaalons against the Popes bull and assembly of the estates of the league Proceedings of the heads of the same Death of the Duke of Parma Attempts of the Duke of Maine after his death His declaration against the king 93. The king maketh answere to the Duke And his Councell offer a proposition to the estates of the league who are turned aside out of the way of peace by the Popes Legate and Spanish Ambassadour The king is solicited to go to Masse wherevnto the leaguers apply all their pollicies ouerthrown before by the Parliament of Parris The king maketh profession of the Romaine religion wherevpon ensueth a generall truce and new practise of the leaguers to withdraw the people from acknowledging him In the meane while the tragedies of Peter Barriere are a playing who desirous to haue a part in the league conspired against the life of the king and Duke de Nemours The leaguers turne themselues on euery hand for ther owne maintenance and to ruinate those of the religion Stratagems of certaine Polititians against the king who expresseth his good will to those of the religion and looseth that which he had conquered in Piedmont 94. He bringeth the league vnder subiection enforceth rebellious townes to their former obedience namely Parris where the Parliament opposeth it selfe against the Spanyardes After certaine goings too and fro to Rome the lesse desperate Leaguers are receiued to fauour Amongst others the Parisians who are woont to chase away the auncient enemies of France published a decree or arrest against the league and the Duke de Maine What ensued vpon a fauourable declaration of the king who in Picardie pursued the remainders of this vnion During this the Vniuersitie prosecuted the Iesuites Warre is noysed in Brittain and towards the lowe Countries About the end of the yeare a disciple of the Iesuites attempted to kill the king 95. Processe against the Iesuites and their secret complots discouered Warre proclaimed against the king of Spaine Leaguers of Soisson hewen in peeces Spaniards discomfited in the Dukedome of Luxembourg Warre in Franch-Countie Beaune surrendred to the king Memorable explopts both of one and other part Duke d'Aumale executed in his image and portrature The siege of Fere. The king obtaineth absolution from the Pope Estates of Picardie 96. Marseilles reduced vnder the kings obedience The Cardinall of Austria releeueth Fere and by force of armes taketh Callais and Ardes Neuerthelesse Fere is by composition deliuered into the kings hands Afterwards Marshall Biron made diuers incoursions into Artois And the amitie betweene the king the Queen of England and the vnited Prouinces of the low Countries was confirmed The king conuocateth the estates at Roan discouering briefly vnto them his intention Henry the seconde M. D. XLVII HENRY the second of that name and the 59. King of France Pharamond the only sonne of Francis the first that died vppon the 30. day of the moneth of March in the year of our Lord 1547. succeeded in the Crowne by order of succession according to the auncient salicque lawe of the land Hee while the Nobilitie were busied to prouide for the obsequie and funerals of his deceased father and staying for his sacrying anoynting in the moneth of Aprill following made and ordained an edict An edict against blasphemers to be published against blasphemers of the name of God which action made shewe of a notable and commendable beginning yet that so laudable a worke continued no longer in force then many others had done before it Neuerthelesse it wrought this effect that thereby it euidently appeareth that succession and not the sacrying and annoynting of a Prince is the chiefe originall of royall authoritie The 16. of Iulie the Court was much troubled by a contention and memorable action that happened betweene Messieurs de Iarnac and Chastegneraye gentlemen of great account that had defied each other by reason of certaine words vsed by one of them which had procured the other to giue the lie The King in steade of ending their cause by aduise of his Councell and to constraine the offender to satisfie the offended graunted them the combat wherevpon according to the Kings appoyntment they appeared vpon the day aforesaid at S. Germaines in Laye where in the presence of the King Princes Lords and others they entred into the lists There Monsieur Iarnac who by all the company was esteemed the weaker by reason he was newly recouered of a certaine sicknesse withall despised and litle fauored ouercame the other to whom before they entered into the combat euery man adiudged the victorie and wounded him in such sort that not long after he died to the Kings great griefe who vppon that occasion expresly forbadde all combats whatsoeuer in this manner hee beganne with a bloodie tragedie and ended with the like as heereafter you shall heare The King sacred at Reims The 27. of Iulie after hee was sacried and annoynted at Reims with all the auncient accustomed ceremonies therevnto belonging in the presence of twelue Peeres spirituall and temporall The spiritual were the Arch-bishop of Reims the Bishop of Langres Beauuais Noyon Laon and Challons the temporall the Duke of Bourgongne Normandie and Guyenne the Earles of Champagne Flaunders and Thoulouse Most part of the Princes Nobilitie of the Realme being likewise present with diuers Ambassadours of straunge nations But the Ambassadours of Florence Mantoue and Ferrare came not by reason of a controuersie that fell out between them concerning their preheminence of places and for that they could not agree therevppon they absented themselues till the cause was further debated The Constable exalted Anne de Montmorency Constable of France who certaine yeares before had been bannished the Court and secretly held at Chantilly as soone as Francis the first died was repealed againe and the new king committed the principall charge of the affaires of the Realme vnto him which at that time were executed by the Cardinall de Tournon the Admirall Annebaut who as then had good leisure to repose themselues yeelding their place to him whom the king termed his Gossep one that in times past had done him many seruices as afterward hee did Mesieurs de Longueual d'Espars de Boncour de Framezelle de Antipe the Barron de la Garde the Generall Bayard and others were narrowly sought and pursued for diuers secret causes in such sort that some of them were forced to saue themselues by the gilded Gate others by meanes of their friends Warres in in Scotland The king hauing made a Progresse into Picardie went further into the Realme and caused an Armie to bee leuied vnder the conduct of Monsieur D'esse to ayde the Queene Dowager of Scotland against the Englishmen causing her to be safely conducted into Scotland to the end to impeach the vnion of both those Realmes which might bee to the preiudice of France and thereby to
Towne to be rased to the ground And because the report went that Hesdin should be besieged the Duke de Bouillon Marshall of France vndertooke to defend the Castle the Duke Horatio Fernese the Counte de Villards with diuers other Lords and Gentlemen being assistants with about 2000. souldiers where they were presently inclosed by the Emperours army whereof Emanuel Philebert Duke of Sauoy and Prince of Piedemont his Nephewe was Generall which place hee battered more freely then at any other time it had bene and mined in so many places that it seemed readie to fall by which meanes the Frenchmen were constrained to parle and while they were vpon the point to make a composition nothing rested but the signe on the one side a Priest by misfortune hauing put fire vnto the artificiall works made within the Castle therwith to defend the assalt on the other side the Burgonions that desired nothing but the spoile hauing caused their mines to worke part of the souldiers were burnt with those artificiall fires and part blowne vp with the mynes the rest remained at the mercy of the Emperours souldiers that entred into the Castle The Duke de Bouillon Hesdin taken from the Frenchmen and rased charged the Prince of Piedemont with his promise but he answered him and said that there needed no Hostages to be giuen seeing he found himselfe to be maister of the place and by that means the Duke with diuers others were taken prisoners by whom the Prince gained a most great raunsome The Castle was taken vpon the 18. day of Iuly Duke Horatio the Vicount de Martigues the Seneschal de Castres and diuers Captaines and Gentlemen were slaine therein which is the fortune of warre but the Emperour caused it to be rased to the ground The ouerthrow of some of the Emperours forces and the taking of the Duke of Arscot After that the French Armie being assembled by Amiens and Piquigny about the 15. of August there happened an encounter wherein the Prince of Conde had the leading of the light Horse and with the same he brake into the Emperours troupes beating and driuing them before him aboue a myle slaying of them to the number of seuen or eight hundreth men and tooke prisoners about fiue hundred and among the rest the Duke of Arscot bearing away their Ensignes which done the Emperours Army retiring towards Arras the kings Armie about the ende of August laie about Corbie Wherein there was almost 7000. horse 25. thousand foote and aboue an hundreth peeces of Artillery both great and small The Emperour determined to cause this great Armie either to consume of it selfe or else at the siege of some Towne or Castle But to the contrary the king desired nothing but battell and to effect his will he approached neare to Cambray and making towardes Valenciennes caused a certaine charge to be giuen where the Frenche horse men had the better and perceiuing that the Emperors Forces wold not hazard themselues the king withdrew his Campe sending the Marshall de S. Andre to ouerrunne the plaine countrie belonging to the Counte of S. Paul and about the ende of October hee discharged a part of his armie the rest were placed in Garrisons to passe the winter time In the Spring there the king made three armies the first vnder the coÌ„duct of the Prince de la Roche Suryon in Vermandois composed of tenne thousand foote three hundreth launces Three armies in France and fiue or sixe hundreth Argoletiers in the second marching towards Crecy conducted by the Constable there was 25. Ensignes of Frenchmen as many Suissers two Regiments of Lansquenets and two thousand horse part light-horses and part Argoletiers with the rereward of France and some English and Scottish horsemen The third conducted by the Duke de Neuers Exployts of thâ—se three armies was composed of twentie companies of Englishmen and Scots two Regiments of Lansquenets three hundreth launces eight hundreth light-horse and Argoletiers and two hundreth Almaine Pistoletiers the first entered into Artois where it made great spoyle and burnt many places that of the Duke de Neuers ouerranne Ardennes tooke the Castle of Orcimont by composition destroyed and burnt great numbers of villages and constrained the Garrison of the Castle of Beaurin to yeeld by composition and then entered into the countrie of Liege hauing assured and opened the nauigation of the Meuse by the taking of certaine little Castles and strong Forts that lye along by the riuer side the Constables armie tooke Mariembourg and fortified Rocroy Issuing out of Ardennes those of Dinam were sounded to know if they would remaine as newter but they made a most bolde and voluntary answere accompanied with some Harquebush shot Wherevpon the Herault and Trompet of the Duke de Neuers somoned them and the Duke by force tooke the Castle of Agimont in the beginning of Iulie finding the Castles of Castelthierri and Valuin wholly abandoned and forsaken which done hee wanne Bouines by assault wherein most of the Inhabitants were slaine or executed to death because they seemed to resist the kings armie Dinam after some small resistance yeelded it selfe the Inhabitants hauing their liues saued and the Towne not burnt as that of Bouines but wholly sacked Therein happened a cruell skirmish betweene the Frenchmen and the Almaines that would haue violated and forced certaine women maides taken within the church which quarrell was ended by the king the Castle not long after was taken by composition An ouerthrowe of the Emperours forces While these things were in this sort executed in the countrie of Liege the Prince de la Roche Suryon being in Artois ouerthrew two Cornets of the Emperours horsemen whereof 200. of them were slaine and the Cornets sent vnto the king who vnderstaÌ„ding that the Prince of Piedemont assembled an armie determining to fight if the Spaniards would aduance themselues purpased to passe the Sambre which he effected and being followed by the Duke de Neuers he entered into the countrie of Hainaut about the 20. of Iuly where he made a horrible spoyle some of his troupes running to the subburbes of Neuelle the frontier Towne of Brabant wherein with all the villages round about it they set on fire winning great spoyle then the armie drew towards Baius one of the principall Townes in Hainaut leauing nothing about it but fire The kings reuenge for the spoiles done in Picardie smokes ashes and miserie throughout all the plain countrie a most lameÌ„table tragedie between two so great Princes The FrenchmeÌ„ being incaÌ„ped about Baius made greater fiers then euer they had done burning all the castles GentlemeÌ„s places throghout the countrie The goodly house of MariemoÌ„t beloÌ„ging to the Q. of Hungarie was not forgotteÌ„ neither yet the castle of Tragny Baius beeing assayled vppon the 22. day of the same moneth yeelded it selfe to the kings mercie that caused it to be burnt in reuenge of the spoyle of Foulembray as also of the Townes and
l'A And hee had no sooner begun but the Flemmings onely staying therevpon got before him which constrained the French Vangard to range themselues in order thereby to sustaine the rest of the armie where it made a braue resistance driuing certaine squadrons of horses out of ranke but the Counte hauing made a furious charge procured the ouerthrow and spoyle of the Marshall who beeing sore hurt was taken with Messieurs de Villebon Senarpont Moruilliers and Chaune and many Captains and souldiers slaine in the field The Marshals armie being composed of certaine companies of launciers three cornets of light-horses Scottish-men 14. Ensignes of French footemen and 18. Companies of Lansquenets all beeing eyther slaine or taken The number that escaped were not many that great wound renewed the former of S. Lawrence day and brake the enterprise vppon the Duche of Luxenbourg where the Duke of Guise pretended to be doing who in the moneth of Iuly tooke his course to Thierashe and so lodged at Pierrepont which he strengthened with 7. Cornets of Rutters a new Regiment of Lansquenets An army by sea of English men Flemings ouerthrowne in Brittaigne At the same time the armie at sea composed of Englishmen and Flemmings to the number of 6000. men or thereabouts hauing sayled along the coast of Britaigne in the end tooke land at Conquet which they spoyled and entering further into the countrie were ouerthrowne by Monsieur de Kersimon whereof some he slewe other he tooke prisoners and caused the rest to saue themselues by fight within their shippes where they presently hoysed sayles and put to sea Both the kings armies hard by Amiens Both the kings hauing prepared their armies no lesse puissant then at other times incamped themselues and stayed not farre from Amiens along by the Riuer of Somme where they had great numbers of strangers so that their owne subiects in comparison of them were very fewe There they made certaine courses and skirmishes but no battell of any consequence and as it seemed those two great Princes were as then come thither to make an agreement the treatie whereof was mooued and to proceed therein they chose the Abbey of Cercamp vpon the frontiers of Artois and Picardie wherefore the King of France appeased the Constable the Marshall S. Andre the Cardinall of Lorraine Moruilliers Bishop of Orleans one of the kings priuie Councell and Secretarie Aubespine The king of Spaine sent thither the Duke d'Alue the Prince of Aurange Deputies for peace Rigome de Silues Granuelle Bishop of Arras and Vigle de Zuichem President of the Councell of Estate in the lowe Countries They assembled in the moneth of October hauing sor vmpier of the differences that might fall out betweene them the Duches Dowager and the Duke of Lorraine her sonne Meane time the Constable hauing agreed for his ransome came to do his dutie vnto the King who gaue him all the entertainment that possible he might and made him lye with him as some certainly report During this meeting both the armies were dismissed the strangers sent into their countries While this treatie of peace continued Charles the Emperour and his sister Ellenor Death of the Emperour Charles the fift and Ellenor his sister of Mary Queene of England and of Cardinall Poole wife vnto King Francis died in Spaine the peace was grounded vppon the marriage of Charles Prince of Spaine with Elizabeth eldest daughter of K. Henry of Philebert Emanuel Prince of Piedemont with Margaret daughter to king Francis deceased That which prolonged the treatie was that the Q. of England demanded the restitution of Callais but about the end of Nouember she died After whom likewise died Cardinall Poole her great Councellor her death that changed the state of England wherein after that neither the Spaniards nor the Pope had more to do caused the assembly to be referred vnto the peace ensuing King Phillip hauing with great pompe celebrated the funerals of his father within the Towne of Brussels The Duke of Lorraine married with the yonger daughter of the French King stayed in Flaunders to heare what should be done by his Deputies before he passed into Spaine The K. of France to ioyne the Duke of Lorraine in alliance with him gaue him Claude his second daughter in mariage reseruing the elder for the cōclusion of peace The espousals were holden in Parris vpon the 5. of Februarie and about the 15. of the same month the Deputies changing place being furnished with large and ample instructions met at the castle of Cambresse king Phillip lying at Monts in Hanaut where the Cardinall of Lorraine went to visit him and after that the Duches Dowager Peace agreed vppon betweene two kings At this second meeting both of them seemed very vnwilling specially the Spaniards moued therevnto by newes out of Piedemont where the Frenchmen had lately receiued an ouerthrow But in the end after many arguments and conclusions they drewe vnto an agreement In the Tretie at Cercamp a marriage had beene spoken of betweene Charles Prince of Spaine and Elizabeth of France Now the Deputies perceiuing king Phillip to bee a Widdower and esteeming the alliance to bee stronger if hee espoused the Princesse which before should haue been giuen vnto his sonne they propounded that Article which to the good contentment of both the Kings was concluded and agreed vpon togither with the marriage of the Prince of Piedemont to the Ladie Margaret The King of France yeelded to the King of Spaine all that hee had taken from him both on this side and beyond the Mountaines also to the Prince of Piedemont la Bresse Sauoy and Piedemont except foure Townes to the Geneuois the Isle of Corse and Siene to the Duke of Florence retaining nothing but Callais without gaining a foote of any other land in all that long and daungerous war which had desolated so many Prouinces sacked burnt ouerthrowne so many Townes Bourges Villages and Castles been the death of so great a number of Princes Lords Gentlemen Captaines Souldiers Cittizens and Paisants caused so many rauishings and violatings of women and maids and in a word which had in a manner tormented all Europe so that in effect the king yeelded aboue two hundreth others write almost as many more places for the conquest whereof a sea of blood of his naturall subiects had been spent and shedde the treasures of the Realme consumed his lands ingaged and he indebted on all sides and which is woorse the fire beeing quenched vppon the borders not long after began within the middle of all his Realme and in euery place thereof as well is seene during the raignes of his three successors But these things are the vnsearchable and deepe iudgements of God which are not lawfull for vs to enter into but onely to worship and adore him that worketh all things with great wisedome with mercie towards his children and with most iust and fearefull vengeance against his enemies
mee I will heare their complaints and doo them iustice Sometimes hee said to those of Guise I knowe not what the matter is but I vnderstand they haue nothing to say but vnto you I would that for a time you should absent your selues from hence to the end that men might see if it bee against mee or you that they complaine They very cunningly and presently bandied such blowes and to diuert the people from giuing credite vnto the demonstrations made touching the cause and iustification of their enterprise they sent letters in the kings name vnto all the Parliaments and Iudges of seuerall prouinces wherein those of the religion were accused to haue conspired against the King A combat of pennes against swords the Princes of the blood and the Estate of the Realme wherevnto was made a most large and ample aunswere wherein all the dealings of those of Guise were fully discouered with plaine and most euident proofes against them to bee guiltie of high treason and not those that had assembled to reduce the King and all his realme into true and perfect libertie There was likewise published an other pamphlet shewing by the example of Phillip de Commines in the last chap. of his first booke that such are open enemies vnto the Estate that say it is treason to speake o◠the assembly of a generall Parliament And that it is the meanes to lessen and diminish the kings authoritie There was likewise aduertisements vnto the people and complaints vnto the Parliament and so some ayded themselues with pen against the swords of their enemies Reuocation of the abolition giuen by the king The 22. of march other letters were sent foorth whereby the king declared that his meaning was not that the abolitiō of the 17. of March shuld extend further but vnto those that simply of ignorance had assembled and trauelled for the keeping of their promise and that therein were not comprehended such as had guided the conspiracie made against his person the Queens Princes and Noble personages that were about him in the which number are contained those that came in armes into the subburbes of the Towne and such as had beene taken about and within the Castle of Noisay which serued for a dispensation of the faith giuen by the Duke de Neuers vnto the Barron of Chastelnau and others Presently after these letters they returned to executions wherin neither day nor night passed but that a great number of prisoners were put to death and all men of quallitie some hanged some drowned the rest beheaded without any publike sentence giuen without declaring the causes of their deaths or without telling their names They constrained the king and his young bretheren to bee assistant at those spectacles Besides that the Duke of Guise many times for a pastime after his dinner caused some of those whom hee most hated of the prisoners to bee brought foorth and hanged out at his chamber windowes The Barron de Chastelnau made a maruellous proces against those of Guise and the Duke de Nemours they beeing present thereby made the Chauncellor stand still and all amazed that dealt in those affaires against his conscience and appealed from the sentence giuē against him before God the like did most of all the rest to the great astonishing of all the assistants perceiuing a most inuincible constancie in all those men but neither the stout courages of the prisoners nor yet the cries of both great and small that as then were present at those executions could not in any sort once mollifie the harts of those of Guise nor yet diuert the rigor of their cruelties A Gentleman named Villemongis beeing vppon the scaffold readie to bee beheaded hauing wet his hands in the blood of his companions lifting them vppe to heauen cryed out saying Lord behold the blood of thy children thou shalt reuenge our cause The death of the Chancellour Oliuier Among the prisoners that after the Barron spake most boldly vnto the Chancellor there were two the one named Picard the other Campagnac that shewed him his petegree from one poynt to the other but the last of them touched him so neare vnto the heart that with griefe thereof the poore Chancellour fell sicke wherein hee continually sighed and murmured to himselfe tormenting his bodie in most straunge manner for that all crooked aged as he was yet he stirred his bodie with such force that he made the bed to shake with greater force then a young man of Iustie yeares could doo The Cardinall going to visit him his paines beganne to increase and perceiuing him a farre of hee cried out and said Ha ha Cardinall thou haste made vs all to be damned But when the Cardinal went neare him saying vnto him that the wicked Spirit sought to seduce him and that hee should remaine constant in the faith That is well done now said hee and so turning his backe presently lost his speech in his great torments many times lamenting the death of the Councellour du Bourg Behold how the chiefe and principall condemners of the prisoners in Amboise was taken and first executed vppon the scaffold of the terrible and manifest iudgements of God The rest in time likewise were brought thither each of them in his turne Monsieur Michell de l'Hospitall an excellent man as then Chancellor of the Duchie of Sauoy was repealed from Nice where he remained to succeed in Oliuiers place and till he came Moruilliers Bishop of Orleans kept the Seales and vsed all the meanes hee could to please the house of Guise The Prince behaueth himselfe boldly in his innocencie against all men The Prince of Conde was in Amboise during those horrible tempests where hee behaued himselfe like a man wholly without feare as knowing himselfe to bee vnculpable Those of Guise animated the king against him setting and appoynting men to watch and looke into his behauiour whereof the Cardinall kept a Register specially of one word spoken by the Prince in chollor perceiuing certaine of the prisoners to bee executed at the Castle windowes saying that the king was counselled otherwise then hee ought to bee to cause such Lords and honest Gentlemen to bee put to death not considering the great seruices by them done vnto the late deceased king and all the Realme of whom beeing so depriued it was to bee feared that during those great troubles straungers would enterprise against the Realme and that if they should bee ayded by any of the Princes they would easilie ouercome it Presently after they caused du Vaux his Sewer to bee committed prisoner and caused the king to send for him into his chamber to shewe him that by the information giuen hee had vnderstood him to beee the chiefe of the conspiracie wherevpon the king added many sharpe threatnings The Prince for answere besought his Maiestie to assemble all the Princes and knights of the Order that as then were within Amboise togither with his priuie Councell to
The Admirall resolueth to goe into Normandy The Admirall on the other side receiued new promises and assurances of the Rutters and withful determination to fight marched vnto Iarqueau which as then was in his power and the tenth day after tooke Sully and the Castle by composition Touching the Duke de Guise beeing hard by Orleans it was resolued that the Admirall with the Rutters and some French Gentlemen should march towards Normandie thereby to constraine the enemie to separate his forces and to giue the Rutters mony that should be brought out of England leauing all the footemen with the rest of French horses ledde by Duras Bouchauanes Bussy Saint Cyre Auaret and others for the defence of the Towne vnder the gouernment of d'Andelot The good will of the Rutters towards those of the religion The Rutters at that time shewed themselues so voluntarie that they left their waggons at Orleans and caused their boyes to carry their necessaries vpon the waggon-horses whereof they made a Cornet of foure hundreth indifferent men The Duke de Guise on the other side tooke order for the defence of the Townes of Normandie and at the same time a thousand extortions were cōmitted against those of thereligion specially in Parris where diuers strange murthers were cōmitted There was likewise a declaration sent vnto the Rutters in the name of the King and all the Princes of the blood to cause them to leaue the Admirall But that serued to as much effect as the Queens letters to the Admirall that answered her in other sort thē they expected On the other side the Prince hauing sayled to escape out of prison and one that sought to helpe him beeing executed yet hee lost not courage but to the contrary spake with bolder courage then euer hee did his nature beeing such that in aduersitie he seemed most inuincible The Admirals voyage into Normandie The first of February the Admirall departed from Orleans with foure thousand horses better furnished then when he fought the battell but not any carriage only thirtie waggons lightly ladē The fourth of February he came before Eureux where the Inhabitants were cōtent to suffer him to march peaceably before the Towne the which passing through a straight hard by Bernay a smal Towne certaine Pesants conducted by a Gentleman of the countrie vnder colour of their great number sought to resist him But to theirs and others their likes costes and ouerthrowes who after the taking of Roanc had committed many outrages and at the Admiralles arriuall assembled themselues togither who hauing stayed certaine daies at Dines was desired by the Inhabitants of the Towne of Caen to ayde them against the Marquesse d'Elboeuf and a new knight of the Order named Renouart who with their troupes molested the Towns-men continually taking some of them prisoners The Admirall busied with other matters sent them Monsieur de Mouy not long before deliuered out of prison with his company and some Argolitiers and hauing receiued mony out of England Artillerie powder fiue companies of English and two of Frenchmen he battered the Castle of Caen vppon the first of March and the next day tooke that strong place by composition The Duke of Guise approached to Orleans But in the meane time let vs returne to the Duke de Guise that approached Orleans about the fift of February the next day with most resolution and by the faintnesse of the Lansquenets that forsooke the place hee wanne the Pertereau wherein they of the Towne left foure hundreth good French souldiers some taken the rest slaine and without the valiant resolution of the Gouernour and the Gentlemen that were in it they had receiued more hurt The ninth hee tooke the Tourelles by surprise and caused great quantitie of Artillerie to bee brought from Parris and Nantes to batter the Isle and the Towne they within shewing maruellous resolutions to rampier and fortifie themselues The Duke of Guise slain by Poltrot bofore Orleans Thursday the eighteenth of February hauing appoynted what order should bee taken touching the assayling the Isles about nine of the clocke at night hee wrote vnto the Queene that within foure and twentie houres after hee would send her word of the taking of Orleans wherein hee would not spare any man woman or childe whatsoeuer and that after hee had kept his Shrouetide therein beeing as then vppon the three and twentieth of February hee would in such sort spoyle and destroy the Towne that the memorie therof should be extinct for euer But man purposeth god disposeth for that the same day as the Duke of Guise about euening returned from the campe to the Castle of Coruey where hee lodged minding to execute that which hee had written vnto the Queene a young Gentleman of Angoulmois named Ich◠Poltrot Sieur de Merey hauing long time before determined to giue the blowe and made his friends of Lyons and other places priuie thereof stayed for him in the way as hee returned to his lodging accompanied with two Gentlemen one going before him the other speaking with him mounted vppon a mule Poltrot that rode vpon a Genet of Spaine went so neare the Duke that beeing about fiue or sixe paces from him hee discharged his Pistolle laden with three bullets seeking to strike him on the shoulder where his armour could not defend him as hee did doubting hee wore a priuie coate which done he fled away and the next day hauing ridden all night hee was taken and committed prisoner Poltrot executed and not long after tormented with hotte tonges to make him confesse and then torne in peeces by foure horses Diuers confessions were published to bee made by him touching this deede thereby to accuse the Admirall and others as if they had mooued him to do it but besides the constant and resolute answeres of the Admirall it was euidently knowne specially at the execution that Poltrot did it of his owne motion and particular intent thereby to deliuer France and specially Orleans from the violence of the Duke of Guise that died the foure and twentieth of February not hauing holden his Shrouetide as hee thought within Orleans but rather in his turne receiued another reward then eyther hee or his expected The motion of peace mooued before his death was presently renued and after many meetings and assemblies Motions of peace renued after the death of the Duke of Guise the Queen-mother exceeding glad of the death of the Duke of Guise whom shee doubted more then all the rest hauing giuen a thousand courteous entertainments vnto the Princesse of Conde the seuenth of March an assembly was holden in the Isle of Boeufs hard by the Towne whither the Prince and the Constable as yet prisoners were brought to make some agreemēt The Constable at their first enterance said that if they spake touching the edict of Ianuary hee could not indure it and in trueth it was as much to condemne him and all his partie of treason to
to Lyons was betrayed into the handes of his enemies in a place about fiue miles from Auranges which mooued those of the religion with all speed to send thither their greatest forces conducted by Captain Saint Andre to relieue their prisoner whereof Fabrice being aduertised the next day in the morning came before Auranges with his armie and some cannons wherewith hee beganne the batterie Those that were gone to the relieuing of their prisoner hearing the noyse of the cannon stayed their course beeing accompanied with diuers of their neighbours by meanes of Fabrices horsemen and beeing surprised in the day time they were constrained to staye at Serignan about a myle from Aurange Part of those of the religion remaining in a small number perceiuing the breach and their Cittizens of the Romish Church readie to set vp on them in the Towne while Fabrice should assayle them without forsooke the Towne and saued themselues with their wiues and children within Serignan Some stayed within Aurange that determined to defend the breach but vppon the sixt of Iune in the morning they heard the noyse of the assaylers They betrai◠each other in Aurange whereof ensued a horrible murther who by diuers waies made open vnto them by those of the Romish Church entered into the Towne The watch-word of those that entered was terrible blasphemie of God they contented not themselues to kill without distinction of sects age nor quallitie but made some die by diuers stabbes with poiniards and rapiers cast others vppon the poynts of halbards hanged burnt others within Churches cut off some of their priuie members olde men of eightie yeares of age bedthred persons diseased people in the Hospitalles The poore men inhabiting in the Mountaines came thither to reape and hauing no other weapons but their sithes and hookes were likewise massacred Many women and maides were killed others hanged at windowes and Galleries were harquebused young children sucking at their mothers breasts massacred diuers young wenches of fiue or sixe yeares rauished and spoyled The woundes of the dead were filled with the leaues torne out of the Bible The Towne was wholly sacked wherein happened a maruellous iudgement of God which was that the authors of the mischiefe that had caused the enemie to enter thinking to bee safe and preserued from daunger withdrewe themselues with their armes and wiues into the Market-place The traitors receiue their reward where the enemie thinking they would haue made resistance fell vppon them and put them all to the sword Those of the Castle hauing yeelded vppon oath and promise made to haue their liues saued were part stabbed and part thrown headlong from the walles to the number of one hundreth and nine men About euening Suze caused the Castle the Pallace and the Bishoppes-place to bee set on fire and three hundreth houses burnt with diuers persons that had hidde themselues therein and without an extraordinarie raine that happened in the night time all the Towne had wholly been consumed to ashes The next day the walles were beaten downe and part of them cleane rased to the grownde Those that were in Serignan withdrewe themselues into Montelimart not being able to remedie so great mischiefes as for Parpaille the Vicelegat of Auignon caused his head to bee striken off sixe weekes after the massacre Des Adrets mooued at those murthers three or foure daies after the massacre of Auranges Des Adrets reuengeth the wrongs 〈◊〉 in Aurange ruuning about like thunder in fewe houres battred and forced the Towne of Pierrelatte where hee put all those to the sword that bare armes presently therevppon hee besieged the Castle wherein were three hundreth souldiers belonging to Suze and while they were in parley those of Serignan hauing ioyned with des Adrets entered by force killing some and casting others ouer the walles not suffering one to escape Des Adrets with the like dexteritie hauing taken Bourg and le Pont S. Esprit that presented him with the keyes went to force Boulene a frontier Towne of Contat where the souldiers of the companie of Captaine Bartelasse were slaine And as hee prepared himselfe to set vpon Auignon Maugiron sacketh Grenoble newes was brought him that Maugiron had entered by treason into Grenoble wherein diuers of the religion had been sacked and slaine others cast off from the bridge into the riuer of Iseire vpō the foureteenth of Iune and some daies after hee stayed his course and with an incredible dexteritie entered into Romans which hee held for himselfe forced Saint Marcellin and there cut the throates of three hundreth of Maugirons souldiers who withdrewe himselfe into Bourgongne where hee remained with Tauanes All such within Grenoble as knew themselues to bee guiltie saued themselues vpon the fiue and twentieth of Iune cursing the cowardlynesse of Maugiron The next day des Adrets arriued therein and vsed both great and small with great courtesie reestablishing all things in their estate and holding his armie in good discipline About the end of Iune hee marched towards Forests where hee vsed those of Montbrison in such manner as I shewed before Des Adrets perswaded by the Marshall de Brissac that promised him maruels beganne to write to the Duke de Nemours Des Adrets wonne by the Duke de Nemours in the end is taken prisoner and in the end they spake togither hard by Vienne meane ttme certaine Gentlemen talking togither among the which one was merrie surnamed Poltrot who because they spake of the death of the King of Nauarre said This death will not make an end of these warres but wee must haue the death of the dogge with the great collor And beeing asked whom hee ment of the great Guisard said hee and lifting vp his right arme spake in open audience Here is the arme that shall do the deed Aboue three moneths before hee had many times vsed those speeches among his companions and intrueth hee kept his promise as wee haue alreadie shewed Of this conference made by Adrets ensued a truce of twelue daies from the fiue and twentieth of Nouember to the sixt of December which day in the assemblie of the Estates of Dauphin des Arets did what he could to perswade the people to accept the Duke de Nemours for their Gouernour but besides the particular reasons not long before by the Nobilitie of the countrie made vnto Adrets they sayde it could not bee done but to the vtter ruine and ouerthrowe of all the Prouince and the letters of the Lieftenant to Nemours beeing openly red discouered the deuise because they contained that the Duke de Nemours was expresly sent to punish the seditious and rebelles Wherevpon the Estates concluded des Adrets himselfe not being able to deny it that before they could proceed further it was necessarie for the Duke de Nemours to obtaine other letters and graunts by the Kings lawfull Councell whereof the Prince of Conde was one as supplying the place of the King of Nauarre his
Whereby the most part of this troupe left that place to lodge themselues with more ease left but a small number of men in place that laye about halfe a league from it This great fault produced another which was that the watch was too weake A notable fault which could not come time ynough to hear nor giue alarme to the enemies troups as they had beene instructed thereby to make them thinke that all the Princes Auantgard lay there The Dukes armie beeing very strong resolued to seize vpon the passage although all the Princes power had opposed themselues against him and by the diligence of Monsieur de Biron not onely repaired the bridge but made a new bridge of barkes which are carried with armies royall and before midnight had finished it which done without great noyse they began to passe ouer both horse and foote The Princes men that stood in gard with fiftie horse about a small quarter of a league from the passage in a manner could scarce perceiue them to passe vntill about the breake of day wherewith they presently aduertised the Admirall who knowing that most part of his men had lodged in other places namely on that side where the enemies came sent them word that they passed and with all speed to march towards him that they might retire altogither that in the meane time hee would stay for them at Bassac At the same time also hee commaunded that all the carriage and footmen should retire which was presently done If then within one houre after all his forces had beene assembled hee had easily retired without much labor Slacking of things daungerous in warre but the time being about three houres that passed in staying for them was the principal cause of their ouerthrow The Admirall would not loose those troupes being nine Cornets of horse and certaine companies of foot wherof the Coronels were the Counte Montgommery Acier and Puuiaut Beeing all come onely Acier that tooke the way towards Angoulesme all the Dukes armie beeing past and hard by the Admirall the skirmish began so hot that each man perceiued that day would bee a battell beeing the thirteenth of March which made the Prince turne backe being half a league from them passing forward for hauing vnderstood that hee should bee constrained to fall to blowes hee hauing a Lyons heart would bee one among the rest WheÌ„ the Admiral for his retrait came to forsake a small chanel which might bee passed ouer but in two or three places the Duke was counselled to aduance the flower of his horsemen composed of seuen or eight hundreth horse which ouerthrew foure cornets that made the retrait where la Noue and la Loue were taken prisoners The Princes magnanimitie ended not but with his life Valiant charges hauing couragiosly sustained the fight as also Coronel Puuiant who not long after reassembled his dispearsed troupe the same horsemen of the Dukes campe not long after charged d'Andelot in a village but he valiantly resisted them and slew Monsalez and diuers others of good account to the number of fifteene or sixteene the Prince and the Admirall ranged in two great squadrons of horse perceiuing that the enemie went about to inclose them betweene all the Dukes forces Charante prepared themselues to giue the charge The Admirall began the Prince seconding which was with greater force then the first and at the beginning made al those that flood against him to turne their backs after that sustaining a new charge where for a time the battell was hot and fierce but in the end he and the Admirall hauing all the enemies armie vpon them the Prince being falleÌ„ vnder his dead horse therby ensued the ouerthrow of the horsemen hauing lost about one hundreth Gentlemen and among the rest the Prince himselfe who lying vnder his horse could not bee relieued by his troupes and yeelding himselfe to Monsieur d'Argences at the report of his taking The death of the Prince of Conde and others a Gentleman of Gascon called Montesqueon Captain of the Dukes guard ran thither and discharging a Pistoll at him shot him in the head wherewith hee presently died His death bredde great sorrow among those of the religion and much ioy to diuers that loued him not namely to the king the Queen the Duke of Aniou and all the house of of Guise specially the Cardinall of Lorraine who the next day after the news was brought vnto the king as then beeing at Metz touching the battell wherin the Catholicques had lost two hundreth Gentlemen among the which were diuers Lords and men of name comming to salute the king after the maner of Courtiers smiling said vnto him your Grace as I suppose is now better disposed then you were the other day beeing eased of much corrupt blood In that manner iested hee who vpon the bodies of the Princes of the blood and the Nobilitie of France placed the foundation of the rule and gouernment which his familie would after haue vsurped as you shall wel perceiue From Metz they sent certaine cornets that had bin taken from the Prince vnto the Pope whereat that good Pastor so much reioyced that he went a foote on procession from his Castle of Saint Ange to the temple of the holy ghost withall the Cardinals to thanke his Imagess with out flatterie this praise may wel be giuen vnto the Prince of whom we will now speake that not any man liuing in his time did euer surpasse him in courage nor courtesie He spake very wisely more by nature then art liberall and readie to all men an execellent leader in warre yet a louer of peace most firme in his religion inuincible in aduersitie but milde in prosperitie a great iester subiect to vanitie louer of women and collor but one that gaue place to reprehensions and aduises of such as hee loued and respected but by this ouerthrow wee may gather that when a matter of importance and hazard is to bee effected it ought not to bee done by halues for that either we must leaue it and not be ashamed to retire or else do it withall our forces If the Admirall and the Prince had had all their forces the Duke would not haue set vpon them also when armies lye scattered they fall into inconueniences which the sufficiencie of the best leaders cannot remedie After this battell the Duke sent to besiege Cognac and began to imbrace diuers other enterprises as if nothing had bin impossible vnto him Exployts after the battell of Brâ—ssac for that not long before certaine places in Poictou had been taken from those of the religion but Cognac stayed the course of this victorie in such sort as that after the Duke had lost the boldest of his footemen in that siege hee thought to get as much by intelligence against Saint Iohn d'Angely where dooing nothing hee summoned Angoulesme that made him no other aunswere but with threatnings to send him away with losse and shame
Court of France with all their principall seruants and there to giue them that entertainment which after fell out In March the Romish Catholicques at Roane murthered diuers protestants as they returned from a Sermon and beate others shrewdly meaning to haue proceeded further had not Marshal Montmorencie whom the king sent made the more haste to suppresse the violence of the seditious who after many pursuites hanged vp three or foure the rest escaped albeit 400. were guiltie of innocent blood Sixe weekes before the protestants had been most cruelly murthered at Aurange by their enemies whom Berchon soone after made Gouernour by Countie Lodowic found means to intrap and punish accordingly Not long after by the kings consent those of the religion were taxed to paye the 5. part of their reuenue towards the payment of the Rutters which produced much discontentmēt About the same time the king and the Queene made their enterie vpon seuerall daies into the capitall towne of the Realme with great pompe The protestants also held a Sinode nationall at Rochel wherein they confirmed the articles of the confession of their faith and discipline of their Churches in the presence of the Queene of Nauarre the Princes and many other of the Principall among them The king hauing made his entrie the eleuenth of March the Queene beeing crowned the 25. of the same moneth at Saint Deunis and the 29. receiued with great magnificence into Parris hee went to sit in his place of iustice in the Parliament where hee made a long Oration to his officers of the Court for the obseruation of his Edicts In witnesse whereof in the moneth ensuing the people of Parris beganne to mutine against those of the religion sacked certaine houses and began to proceed further prouoked by their Preachers because of a certaine Crosse placed in S. Dennis street in a place where in times past stood the house of Phillip de Gastines rased to the ground because that certaine sermons and the Lords Supper had beene made and celebrated therein Gastines for that cause hauing been executed to death during the troubles that had beene carried into S. Innocents Church-yeard This mutinie appeased the king that shewed great fauor to Teligny his companions sent them to the Q. of Nauarre the Princes in Rochel to assure them that all his desire was to maintaine the peace that for his owne part he bare them great affection procuring that the Q. his mother the Duke of Aniou his brother should from day to day leaue off their rigors And at their departure gaue them diuers presents giuing them likewise to vnderstand that his minde was to proceede with war against the Spaniard in the low Countries and to marrie his sister to the Prince of Nauarre Biron was sent after to certifie the like and men began to speake of that marriage in diuers sorts their opinions being diuided some esteeming it to bee a snare to intrap those of the religion others deeming the contrarie The king caused certaine consultations to be made in Rome because of the alliance between both the parties Pope Pius the fist seemed to bee much troubled about the same for that effect sending Cardinal Salutati into France who hauing had certaine conference by word of mouth with the king returned satisfied The effect of that the king said vnto him was that the king would alwaies shewe himselfe to deserue the name of the eldest sonne of the Romish Church and that all his intents tended to no other end but only to the suretie honour and aduancement of the Catholicque religion whereof the Pope should receiue great testimonies before long time should passe But notwithstanding that diuers maruelled much at this suddaine alteration of the king the Queene of Nauarre much sought vnto by diuers great persons of both partes went to the king followed by the Countie Lodowicke great numbers of Nobilitie The king and the Queene his mother were at Blois where they receiued and welcommed her with great ioy and good countenance and after many disputations touching diuers particular poynts specially the cerimonies the agreement vpon the marriage of her sonne with the kings sister was concluded and the place of the espousals assigned at Parris Not long after the Prince her son accompanied with fiue hundreth Gentlemen came to Blois where the marriage of Nenry de Bourbon Prince of Conde with the yongest daughter of the house of Neuers was agreed vpon During these parleyes of mariages with the Princes the Admirall that had buried Ladie Charlotte de Laual his wife a woman of excellent pietie that died at Orleans in the second troubles beeing in Rochel married the Counties of Ancremont in Sauoy and gaue Louyse his daughter in marriage to Monsieur de Teligny At the Court one named Lignerolles a simple Gentleman made knight of the Order Captaine of a company of launciers Gouernor of Bourbonnois and one of the Duke of Anious mignions was slaine openly in the Court for discouering certain of his Maisters secrets Lignerolles slaine by the D. cōmitted vnto him touching the enterprise that was ment against those of the religion On the other side Death of the Cardinall of Chastillon the Cardinal of Chast being readie to depart out of England to go to his brother the Admiral was poysoned by one of his Chamberlains and died to the great great griefe of all his friends and seruants The prisoner that did the fact beeing after taken at Rochel was executed Articles of marriage betweene the Prince of N. and the kings sister This is the yeare wherein is set downe the arriuing of the Queen of Nauarre the Princes and the Admirall in the Court the articles of the marriage of the prince of Nauarre and the kings sister were made at Blois the eleuenth of Aprill The Countie Lodowicke at the same time trauelled with the king touching warres to bee made in Flaunders to the which ende preparations were made at sea by Strossy and the Barron de la Garde but at the end of three moneths Flaunders was found to be Rochel Long before the king had caused the Admirall to bee solicited to come vnto the Court and to drawe him thither hee caused those of Guise to retire who thereat counterfetted to bee discontent The Marshall de Montmorency by letters assured his Cousin the Admirall that the king was fully determined to make them friends and to reconcile him with the Duke of Guise the better to be serued by him and his Councell touching the affaires of his Realme and beganne to fauour those of the religion and to put the Admirall out of all distrust the king sent him letters that he might bring fiftie Gentlemen armed with him vnto the Court whither in fine the Marshall de Cosse conducted him with diuers Gentlemen At his comming hee was honourably receiued and welcommed by the king that called him his father Welcomes to the Admirall and others of the religion in the Cout
Ienlis aduentures who had gathered foure thousand footemen and fiue hundreth horse Ienlis and his troupes defeated for the succor of Countie Lodowicke and la Noue whom the Duke of Alue had besieged in Monts In the meane time commeth the new dispensation toward the ende of Iuly wherewith the Cardinal seemeth satisfied and the eighteenth day of August is nominated for the marriage In the meane time commeth the news of Ienlis surprise and aduenture whereat the king seemeth to bee much agreeued who writeth to his Ambassadour in the lowe Countries to procure by all possible meanes the deliuerie of the prisoners taken in that surprise as also he suffereth the Admirall to send all the succour hee may to ioyne with the Rutters whom the Prince of Orenge had buried at the same time causing him to haue mony deliuered for the footemens paye who were thought to amount to foure Regiments besides some thirtie companies of men at armes The Ambassadour of Spaine seemed to be malecontent because the king went about to make war in Flaunders and for the same cause withdrew himselfe out of France the Queene-mother also played many parts in this tragedie faining not to haue knowne the kings proceedings and knowing them made as though she would haue left the Court in such manner that the Admiral Teligny his sonne in law and other Lords confirmed themselues more and more that the kings actions were correspondant to the Admirals aduice which was to make warre in the king of Spaines countries that had kindled it and pretended to make warre in France thereby in time to cease vppon it Rochel inuested prouideth for it selfe The last of Iuly the Rochelers wrote vnto the Admirall that the armie at sea approached neare them and that it spoyled the plaine Countri-men comming euery day from Xantongue and Gascon vsing terrible threatnings against their towne openly speaking of the spoyle thereof sending to aske his counsell therein specially touching the receiuing of eight hundreth men for Garrison which they sought to put into the Towne Hee made them an honourable aunswere dated the seuenth of August assuring them of the care hee had ouer them and added that hee sawe the king so well disposed to the entertainment of peace that all men had cause to commend him The Rochelers notwithstanding neglected not to looke vnto themselues and to fortifie their Towne In other Townes their ranne diuers mutterings and many were the threats of the Romish Catholicques against the Protestants which daunted some of them Others relied vppon the Admiralles presence in the Court and trusted to his answere deliuered as well by word of mouth as by writing vnto those that asked his aduice vppon all accurrences whose speeches were in effect as followeth That as concerning the Guisians whom they so vrged the King had taken order by setting them at vnitie and causing both parties to swear friendship that the marriage of the Ladie Margaret whom the King gaue saith hee not to the King of Nauarre onely but as it were to the whole Church of the Protestants to ioyne with them in an indissoluble vnion was the type of their peace and safetie Heerevpon hee often besought such as sent him any packets gaue him any aduice of the hatred of the King the Queene-mother the Duke of Anion or the house of Cuise against either himselfe or the Protestants no more to trouble him with any the passed calamities but rather to be content with their daily prayers to God to whom they were to giue thankes that hee had vouchsafed to bring all matters to so quiet an end In brief the Admiral euer like himselfe stood fast in all these motions not that hee knew not of the malice of infinite his aduersaries that inuironed him neither that beeing at Parris hee laye in the very goulf and deepest pit of death but because through constancie and long continuance he had framed himselfe to rely vpon Gods prouidence as also for the hauing secretly layed open vnto the King the very springs of the ciuill warres in France and most liuely painted foorth the practises of his secret enemies and treacherous seruants that aymed at the soueraigntie since it hath manifestly appeared hee supposed that he had left him in a faire path to preuent them For sure it is that the King albeit as then but yong had a very good wit and could reasonable wel perceiue the course of his affaires so that had not such bloodie and furious Councelles preuented and crossed his capacitie France had not incurred those calamities that since haue almost subuerted the whole estate thereof For in the end he found albeit ouer-late for his person and crown that they that termed themselues his seruants ment nothing lesse but were his most cruell enemies and such as had exiled and murthered his best subiects to the end afterward with more facilitie to ridde their hands of himselfe and so to seize vppon the Realme There happened yet an other matter as the waies of God are maruellous and vncomprehensible that more and more stopped the eares of the Admirall Negotiation of Polonia not to way so many aduertisements as daily were giuen him to depart out of Parris to take with him out of Parris such Lords Gentlemen and Captaines as the Queene-mother the Duke of Anion the Guisians and the Parrisians most vehemently hated For certaine weekes before it had been determined in the Councell to send Ambassadours into Polonia king Sigismond beeing dead to desire the Estates to chuse for their king the Duke of Anion whom the Admirall accounted an irreconcileable enemie to the Protestants The Admirall therefore perceiuing that the king was earnest to further that matter of Polonia for his brother that had great credite throughout the Realme of France iudged that the king had a good insight and desired to reduce all things to a sure and firme peace that the Duke of Anion confined in Poland his adherents would be constrained to become milder that the house of Guise destitute of such a staye and doubting the king that many times looked with a fierce countenance would bee carefull not to bee too busie that in time and not long the Queene-mother would bee constrained to leaue the conductions of the affaires of the Realme vnto her sonne wherevnto hee beganne to frame himselfe and perceiuing that the King and the Queene appoynted Iohn de Monluc Bishoppe of Valence a man of great iudgement and one that had effected many serious enterprises and at other times had trauelled into Polonia for the same purpose which voyage hee beganne the seuenteenth of August it put him in better hope Monluc to the contrarie perceiuing the tempest at hand desired nothing more then to get him out of France that hee might not bee a witnesse nor forced Councellour to the mischiefes which hee perceiued readie to fall vppon those of the religion A little before hee had wished the Countie of Rochefoucaut other Lords neuer to meddle in
courtelasses ponyards kniues and other such bloodie instruments ranne swearing and blaspheming the sacred Maiestie of God throughout the streets and into the houses where most cruelly they massacred all whosoeuer they met without regard of estate condition sexe or age the streets paued with bodies out and hewed in peeces the gates and enteries of houses Pallaces and publicque places died with blood A horrible plague of shoutings and hollowings of the murtherers mixed with continuall blowes of Pistolles and caliuers the pittifull cries of those that were murthered the bodies cast out at windowes vppon the stones drawne through the durt with straunge noyse and whistlings the breaking of doores and windowes with billes stones and other furies the spoyling and sacking of houses Carts carrying away the spoyles and others the dead bodies which were throwne into the riuer of Seine all redde with blood which likewise ranne out of the towne and from the kings owne Pallace The king of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde being called to speake with the King and by his owne mouth were certified what had past adding The entertainment of the king of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde that hee saued their liues vppon condition that they should renounce their religion and follow his otherwise that they should looke for the like punishment that their adherents had and should receiue The King of Nauarre besought the king to remember his promise of the alliance newly contracted and not to constraine him in his religion the Prince of Conde more feruent aunswered that the King had giuen his faith to him and to all those of the religion with so solemne protestation that hee could not be perswaded that he would falsifie so authenticque an oath In respect of the obedience which the King required of him hee had faithfully yeelded vnto him not minding in time to come to depart from it in any sort whatsoeuer But touching the religion wherof the king had granted him the exercise and God the knowledge to whom hee was to yeeld account for his bodie and goods hee left them to the Kings disposition to do with them as pleased him but for his religion hee said hee was fully determined to remaine constant therein which hee would alwaies maintaine to bee true although it were with the losse of his life This aunswere of the Prince set the King in such a chollor that hee beganne to call him rebell seditious and sonne of a seditious person with horrible threatnings to cause him to loose his head if within three daies he took not better counsell which was done in presence of the Queene-mother the Duke of Aniou Birague and others of his secret Councell whose other proceedings must bee set downe They perceiuing that the massacre of Parris would not quench the fire but rather kindle it more because those of the religion might assemble and vnite themselues togither as it happeneth in such miserable chances giue them new worke these Councellours made two messengers the one from the same Sunday to the Gouernours and seditious Catholicques of Towns wherein were diuers of the religion with expresse commaundement to massacre them The other message contained certaine letters to the Gouernours of Prouence by the which hee charged those of Guise with the murther committed vppon the person of the Admirall because of their particular quarrell and of the sedition happened in Parris ceased the same day it began as those letters of the foure and twentieth of August specified by the authoritie and vigilancie of the King whose meaning and commaundement was that his Edict of pacification should be holden as much as euer it was Strange deuises to roote out those of the religion and to couer the action of the massacre through all his Realme Wherevnto he added these words And because it is greatly to bee feared that such execution which by other letters was published to bee made vpon a very small number should cause my subiects to rise one against the other and that great massacres should bee committed within the townes of my Realme which would bee great griefe vnto me I pray you to publish and make it knowne in all the places of your Gouernment that euery man should liue in peace without raising armes nor offending each other vpon paine of death causing our edict of pacification to be carefully obserued and kept and to punish the contradictors and ouerrunne those that would seem to rise and bee disobedient to our will you shall presently assemble all the forces you can make as well of friends as of your ordinarie companies aduertising the Captaines of the Townes and Castles of your gouernment to looke well to the safetie and preseruation of the said places that no fault may bee escaped aduertising mee assoone as possible you may what order you haue taken therein and how all things passe within your gouernment Other notable practises but all to the eternall confusion and reproach of the authors The same day were likewise dispatched other pattents prohibiting the carrying of all forbidden weapons all fraudulent assemblies orrepugnant to the Edict of pacification vnder the benefit whereof the king commaunded all his subiects to liue in quiet and peace each with other The Queene-mother likewise wrote her letters to the Gouernours and Ambassadours in like substance as the king It was agreed betweene the King the Queen-mother his brother Birague the Duke of Neuers and the Countie of Retz and other the Guisians should auoyde Parris and immediately after the deaths of the Admirall and his partakers withdrew thēselues in some of their houses that so the French and their neighbours might the rather think it to be some particular reuenge that bred also the tumult in Parris Vppon this counsell the King had in his Sunday letters layd the whole rage vppon the Guisians who considering more deeply the inormitie of the act wherein they had not spared an infinite number of learned men honorable olde age honest Ladies chaste matrones women with childe young schollers virgins sucking babes but most cruelly cut their throates perceiuing that so they should bring vpon themselues their posteritie the indignation of all men indued with any sparke of vertue or that had any regard of humane societie and consequently make themselues the marke for euery man to ayme at as the sole authors thereof and men guiltie of the most wicked action that could bee deuised refused to forsake Parris But contrariwise insisted and most earnestly laboured that the king should aduow all that had beene done This did they and their Councell so cunningly mannage besides that they were very strong and greatly in the peoples fauour who had been followers of the Duke of Guise in this execution that the king with the aduice of his Councell soone after writ other letters to his Ambassadours Gouernours of Prouin ces and chiefe Townes of France wherein hee gaue them to vnderstand that whatsoeuer had fallen out at Parris was nothing concerning religion but
certain charme vsed against the life of the king Althogh la Mole sustained the cōtrarie vntil the last point of his death affirmed it to be made only to continue him in the loue of that Gentlewoman whom he ment to marrie The king vsed all the meanes hee could to surmount and ouercome his sicknesse and as his yeares gaue him assayed diuers times to shewe his courage but all in vaine After the departure of the king of Polonia they perceiued him to bee more changed in minde then in bodie If he had liued longer it is without all doubt that the Councellours of the massacre had receiued their reward from him his heart was so much mooued against them so that he could not chuse but vtter his mind therin to some about him in the Court whom hee knew to bee vtter enemies to such iniustice and thereof wrote letters out of the Realme So that to conclude hee was determined to haue made some stirring among them vntill that finding himselfe to bee seized vppon and that hee had not the meanes as then to execute any thing beeing inuironed by men that helde him as it were bound both hand and foote his seruants slaine disgraced or banished from him wherein in time he thought to take order that might procure an ouerture to his haughtie desires not once thinking vntill hee was so weake that hee had beene so neare his death His letters to the Gouernors of Prouinces In the end of March hee wrote vnto the Gouernours of the Prouinces saying that seeing the discontentment of his subiects and the common cause of the religion produced so many troubles within his Realme hee desired them to vse peaceable meanes with those of the religion declaring that hee would not that any wrong should be done vnto them nor other dealing vsed towards them in their affaires then the other Catholicque subiects of his Realme hee commaunded that those of the religion should bee safegarded by those of the Romish Church to assure defend them from the violence that was to be done against them where any such should bee enterprised hee commaunded all his Officers to vse the speediest and readiest iustice that might bee willing them to looke vnto it calling God to witnesse that his onely intent was to see all his subiects liue in peace Hee likewise desired the same Gouernours to prouide that their companies should not in any sort bee chargeable to their subiects but should paye according to the order therein taken by the same letter also shewing that hee had been sicke of a quarterne ague hee was as then somewhat recouered so that the reports spred abroad of his death were wholy vntrueths The fourth of May hee aduertised the said Gouernors of the imprisonment of the two Marshals that were accused of conspiracie against his person and the estate inioyning them to ouerrunne all those that were vppe in armes to put them to the sword but the poore Prince as then was neither respected of friends nor enemies Euery day he receiued packets of new commotions that bredde nothing but discommodities wherein a firme peace and faithfull maintenance of those of the religion in the exercise thereof and in that which they had desired for the conseruations of their persons goods dignities rights and priuiledges had beene the onely remedie which his mother and her Councellours abhorred Hee perceiued the beginnings of new troubles in the captiuitie of his brother and his brother in law and the two Marshals as also in the exile of the Prince of Conde and of diuers great Lords his subiects armed one against the other and to bee short the fire of diuision kindled more then euer it was Wherevpon ouercome with the euill that raigned in his bodie and with so many horrible tempests in his brains he was forced to keepe his bed and yeelde to his disease For the space of certaine daies hee stroue and struggeled against nature not yeelding therevnto by extreame force The nine and twentieth of May letters were written in his name to the Gouernours of Prouinces to whom hee sent word that during his sicknesse if he chanced to die vntil the comming of the king of Polonia his brother successor they should obey the Queene his mother Letters in fauour of his mother whatsoeuer shee would commaund shewing that his bretheren the Duke of Alencon and the king of Nauarre had promised him to do the like in her behalfe in the two last weekes of his sicknesse hee lost much of his blood that issued out of many places of his bodie and once rowlde himselfe therein falling downe by weaknesse many times naming diuers Lords whom he particular hated and that till then had kept themselues out of his hands The thirtieth of May which was the day of his death the Queene-mother perceiuing that the simple letters made the day before The day of his death what passed as then specially touching the regency touching the charge to her committed sufficed not to strengthen her authoritie during the absence of the king of Polonia whom shee feared could not so soone returne againe into France determined for his sure establishment to cause her selfe to bee declared Regent in the absence of the king to come and to cause letters pattents thereof to bee sealed by the Chancellour Birague who with the seales was wholly at her commaundement which was as much as to ouerthrow subuert the fundamentall lawes of the Realme to abolish the right of the first Prince of the blood to lessen the authoritie of the estates generall to rule the Parliaments and to raigne in straunge manner ouer France Neuerthelesse the better to binde the hands of the two first Princes of the blood and the two Marshals whom shee held prisoners to beate her enemies to extirminate the Countie de Montgommerie kept prisoner against faith and promise made to sowe new diuisions in the estate and so to maintaine her selfe in those confusions without foreseeing the great disorders whereof shee should bee cause by that meanes giuing libertie to those that in the ende would bee her ouerthrowe as heereafter you shall heare her ambition blinded her eyes shee entered into the kings chamber with Birague by whom shee caused to bee shewed vnto him that seeing his sickenesse hindered him from dealing in the affaires that required his presence it should be good to giue the regencie of the Realme vnto the Queen his mother and commaunded that letters pattents to the same end should be giuen vnto her The king that was at his last houre by their aduise caused the Secretaries and Captaines of his guards to bee called in to whom hee saide Doo all that which the Queene my mother shall commaund you and obey her as my selfe The Duke of Alencon and the King of Nauarre were likewise called that they might knowe that the Regencie was committed to the Queene-mother and were expresly named in the letters that were presently dispatched for the same purpose
consisteth therein and her assurance is our securitie hee that straineth this corde breaketh the hermonie of the Common-wealth and induceth the dissimilitude of religions which presently openeth the gate to murthers enmities and seditions and from thence to persecutions both publike and priuate for that neither the old can be reformed nor the new established without contradiction violence From thence it proceedeth that when in one Nation there are some that remaine constant and firme in the faith and tradition of their forefathers and that others do reprooue it and inuent certaine doctrine which they preach and affirme to be the pure true and onely rule for men to learne it cannot be remedied and of force it must be so that this diuersitie of religion bringeth with it a diuision of minds and of enmities which are not appeased but by the ruine of the one or the other part the triumph of Israel is the losse and hinderance of the Aegyptians The first motion of religiō in Bohemia by Iohn Hus and Hierome of Prague France that had seene the strange furies which this apple of discord by the Hussites had sowne in Bohemia at Munster by the Anabaptists and in Allenmaigne and Suisse and that ought to beware by other mens harmes and looke that the fire of their partialities take no hold in her towe hath most miserably abandoned it selfe vnto this schisme and more overrun sacked and troden vnderfoote by the great faction of Catholiques and Huguenots in thirtie yerres then it indured The death of King Francis at Rombouillet in the space of 6. yeares vnder the long variable and cruell wars of the two houses of Orleans Burgonge factions more fatal miserable in France thē that in Italie of the Guelphes and Gibelins or in England of the long wars between the houses of Lancastre and Yorke It had the beginning from the death of King Francis the first which graine of diuision wherewithall the Prouinces of this Realme is sowen was bought in Geneue of such as brought it from Saxony where they had great store out of Luthers Warehouses Luther began to preach And the most curious who at the first thought to enter into those vesselles of new sects The assembly of Lutheriās dicouered in Parris in S. Iames street before the colledge du Plessis but onely to shake them were carried away by impetuositie of wind and the goodly apparance of her opinions which were said to tend onely to the reformation of the abuses of pride and luxurie in the Cleargie thereby to reduce it into the estate of the Leuites without lands or possessions France that at all times hath beene the nource of fine wittes both subtill and curious was the most fit and apt Prouince wherein to make this Noueltie spring and therein became so fruitefull that in lesse then two or three yeares there was found more Lutherians within the Capitall Cittie of Parris then Prelates or Doctors to oppose themselues against them The Duke of Saxon the Counte Palatin the Marques of Brandebourg the Duke of Witenbourg The marriage of the Dauphine with the Queene of Scots But the king that sought to quench this fire by the rigor of lawes at the first entrance of those Nouelties spared neither authoritie of Edicts seueritie of punishments nor executioners to extirpe them Whereat certaine forraine Princes beeing mooued besought him to moderate his publike persecutions and the great Potentates of the Realme rose vp and put themselues in armes and among the rest Monsieur d'Andelot a man whom the king loued both for the honour of his house and valour of his person and many Councellours of the Court of Parliament found to bee inveloped with this cloude wee cast in prison The Cardinall of Lorraine and the Duke of Guise his brother that practised the marriage of the Queene of Scots their Cousin with the kings eldest sonne and were the greatest next the king who for counsell put his whole confidence in the Cardinal and his forces into the Duke of Guises hands making him Lieftenant generall of his Realme that had all authoritie ouer the people that esteemed them no lesse faithfull to the Crowne then zealous and religious towards the Church that honoured them as the most affectioned to the Common-wealth that were his Druses Marcels Dions and Phocions mooued the king to the extirpation of those Heresies and without doubt hee had surely done it if the splinter of Mongommeries launce had not beene which although it brake not yet it stayed the furie of those publike executions The death of King Henry the second This great king that promised his people a long and continuall peace beeing dead his Scepter remained to Francis but the royall authoritie with them that as then had the possession and that vaunted themselues to deserue it in respect of their seruices done to the king their countrie and religion in such manner The sacring of Francis the second The Constable withdraweth frō the Court. that before Anthony de Burbon king of Nauarre first prince of the blood arriued at the Court his place was taken vp and the royaltie diuided and put into the handes of a king of fifteene yeares of age an Italian woman a Cardinall and a Prince of Lorraine The kings auncient seruants beeing separated from the Court namely the Constable Like as the sunne is in heauen the same should the king be on earth and what effect the sunne worketh with the Planets the same should the K. vnto the Princes of his blood the sun neuer withdraweth his brightnes That was ordamed at Tours Ann. 1484. and at the same time obserued by Charles 8. son to Lewis the 11. that raigned 14. yeares Malecontent in An. 1560. from them no more should the king deny this fauour to the Princes of his-blood that are about him Which not being don it cānot be but there must be disorder Eclipses obscure confusions The Princes of the blood perceiuing themselues debarred from their guard that the king was in the custodie of strāgers contrarie to the ancient priuiledges of France wich ordaineth that the minoritie of the K. shall be assisted by a councell chosen by al the Estates of the Realme wherein the Princes of the blood ought to beare the principall place and straungers excluded vnited themselues togither in the middle of a thousand deaths to preserue their degrees and dignities This discontentment opened the caracters of diuisions that after caused a deluge of miseries in the realme of France And the Malecontents eyther because they were excluded from publike charges or beeing tormented in the libertie of their consciences agreed togither to vnhorse the house of Guise that aspired so neare the king minding neuer to leaue armes before his Maiestie should be deliuered out of their hands and the estate reduced vnder a lawfull gouernment promising neuerthelesse not to attempt any thing against the person of the king his authoritie nor the
mother and his bretheren But the freedome of the Ministers being impatient to staye the resolution of a Councell made them to preach openly whereby they so much tempted and altered mens consciences that suddainly the ceremonies traditions of the Church were abated and the temples seased vpon destroyed And the Constable beeing descended of the first Barron and first Christian in France opposed himselfe against this diuersitie of religion in one realm The Edict of Iuly made at S. Germains in Laye 1561. The assembly at Poissy The murther of Vassy the 1. of Mars 1562. The battaile of Dreux the 19. of Decēber 1561. The Constable was first taken then the Prince of Conde The king of Nauarre was slaine at the siege of Rouē 1562. The Duke of Guise slaine before Orleans the 24. of Febru 1563. 1. Edict of peace Anno. 1563. Reconciliatiō betweene the D. of Guise and the Admirall 1566. Counsell of the Duke of Alue The enterprise at Meaux at the feast of S. Michael 1567. The battaile of S. Denis on S. Martins euen 1567. VVhere the Constable was slaine The second Edict of peace at Lōiumeau which from the time of king Clouis had bin holden maintained in paritie and integritie vnder the ancient faith of their forefathers The Cardinal of Lorraine on the other side tooke the matter in hand and counselled the king to make an Edict against those of the religion the presumption of certain men was such that they cōsented to the disputation at Poissy wher in place of remedie we found but an increasing of our miseries After that the Edict of Ianuarie so much renoumed in all the troubles and solemnized by the Huguenots folowed the breach whereof by the means of Vassy caused both parts to fall to armes vpon the plaines of Dreux which gaue the name to that me morable battell not onely for the number of men there assembled being 1900. foot 2000. horse for the kings part 4000. horse called White-coates 6000. foot of the contrarie as for diuers other accidents that therin were marked besides the taking of two of their chiefe leaders For the Prince of Conde that imputed the first motions of his imprisonmēt of his separatiō frō the fauor and presence of K. Francis the 2. to the practises of the Duke de Guise that euening of the battell was his prisoner accepted the halfe of his auncient enemies bed that was offered vnto him a right discription of this variable world wher you see one triumphing the other captiue Among so many prosperities that inuironed the Duke of Guise by the death of the king of N. Generall of the kings armie followed by all the Catholicque Nobilitie Tutor cōductor of the king Queen-mothers whole affaires death being iealous that the Capitall citie of the realme at his arriuall had cried Viue Guise Viue Guise with as great ioy gladnes as euer they cried Viue le Roy dispatched him out of the way by Poltrots means that slew him at Orleans therby finished the first ciuill war at which time the Prince of Conde was deliuered out of prison the Constable brought the first Edict of peace By this peace France had means to breath and her subiects to liue in some assurance but the corrupted humours that caused the disease of the estate were not so wel disiested but that ther rested some remnants whereby it might be feared it would fall into a much more dangerous sicknesse which happened 3. years after whē the most troublesome alterers of estate renued the fire which although it were not vtterly quenched yet it was half cōsumed The Queen hauing performed that generall visitation of all the kings Prouinces at Moulins taken vp the quarrel between the houses of Guise Chastillon and made thē friends caused 6000. Switzers to be sent for vndera fained sear of the D. of Albes passage throgh France with whom she had conferred at Bayonne wher they concluded that to liue in peace it was best for her to fish after great Samons to leaue the frogs The Admiral perceiuing it determined rather to saue himselfe by his armes then with his legs and went so near vnto the king that he had almost taken him at Meaux and so caused him to retire to Parris being conducted by Pfiffers regiment And the Prince of Conde tooke the town of S. Dennis assieged Parris burned the milles And in fine the two armies met fought before S. Dennis wher the Protestants retired the K. had the victorie but it cost him the life of the Constable beeing one of the valiantest Captains in al Europe who hauing commanded in 7. battels died in the sight of the citie of Parris and of his king at the head of an armie victorious by his cōduction hauing cut his enemies in the cheeks that had wounded him in the face he was by a Scot shot into the raines with a Pistolle so died of the seuenth wound he had receiued in that seuenth battel being of the age of 60. and 7. yeares This death procured an other little peace cōmonly called the lined peace which continued but 6. months and made a war that The Prince of Conde slaine at Bassac the 21 of March 1569. The battaile of Montcontour the 3. of October 1569. The 3. Edict of peace An. 1570. indured for the space of 2. whole years wherein the Prince of Conde died and where the Princes of Nauarre and Conde the Dukes de Guise and Maine were Captains the one of the protestants armie vnder the conduct of the Admiral the other for the defence of Poictiers vnder Monsieur the kings brother General of his Maiesties armie whereby the battell of Moncontour happened where all the protestants footemen were slaine and the Rutters spurs were not sharp ynough to make their horses flie but Monsieur not pursuing his victorie suffered his enemies to range meet togither again who in short time were foūd strong ynough to constrain him to the wars or else to make another Edict of peace with more aduantage then the two first This peace being sworned by al those that had any publike authorite therin caused the Frenchmen to feele the sweetnesse of tranquillitie to be much different from the sharpnesse and bitternesse of ciuill diuisions Therein the king the Queen-mother his bretheren and the Princes did nothing but breath and aspire vnto contentment nothing was spoken of in France but only assurance and of remoouing their wars vnto the frontiers or within the bowelles of forrain countries and euery place was filled with marriages bankets c. But this goodly shew was put only a presaging of the torment that ensued and Saylers iudged that those great calmes would in the end cause some great tempest For presently after ensued the great and terrible day so full of blood teares and sorrow where without respect The massacre vppon Bartholomewe day Ann. 1573. so many
likely to haue ouerunne the Duke of Guises forces and as it was at the poynt to retire backe againe the Prince of Conde the Duke de Bouillon and the Lords of Chastillon and Cleruant promised to pay them all their wages so they would passe forward The hope of their paye made them to march in a time not much conuenient towards the forrest of Orleans The King perceiued that the longer their armie kept the field the greater would bee the ruine of his countrie and that being ioyned to the King of Nauarre it would doo much hurt caused the Sieurs of the Isle of Cormont to certifie the Coronels that if they would yeeld vppe their colours and sweare to beare no armes in France without the expresse commaundement of his Maiestie hee would giue them assurance to retire in safetie they perceiuing themselues farre from the king of Nauarre hardly handled by the Frenchmē beaten by the league pursued by the king Capitul ati◠the 20. of December 1587 and forsaken of the Switzers assembled themselues togither at Marsigni and accepted his Maisties offers sent by Monsieur d'Espernon that feasted them and made them drinke new muscat their bellies full Monsieur de Chastillon laying holde vppon the occasion of a safe retrait and for his purpose protested not to yeelde vppe his colours but to the King of Nauarre so tooke his way towards Roane to retire with a hundreth good horse and certaine Harquebusiers The Gouernour of Lyons entered into the field to impeach his passage but the little children of Coindrieu easilie iudged of his fortune the effect of that expedition which they called not the iourney of spurres but the battell shewing the backe and bring newes thereof before it was fully done For there they fought like the Scithians they that had their heeles best armed were most valiant The Scitheans fight flying The consideration of this encounter and the inequallitie of the forces and leaders maketh me beleeue that which many haue perswaded themselues to bee true which is that wisedome in warre is of little force For fooles commonly beate vvise men Beholde an olde Captaine armed with so many examples Olde Captaines commit young faults Paradoxe and glorious exploytes of war that had sharpened his iudgement by so many practises findeth himself contrained to yeeld the place to a small handfull of men halfe wearied It is said that good wines are best in the latter part of the yeare when time hath purged them of their fire and made them mylder but regard must bee had that they become not sowre Age causeth strange Metamorphoses in vs it breedeth euill fauored wrinckles in our hearts and alwaies there is somewhat that tasteth sharpe and mustie and beginneth to be faint or ranke Old men should sit in Councell and young march in the fielde olde men feare blowes The boyling and couragious heate of youth mother of braue exploytes is extinguished in them there it is too hotte for them They neuer sleepe without curtins and fire I make more account of a young Captaine whose vertue and valour groweth vp with his age and such as without dissimulation France hath found in Monsieur de Chastillon who in lesse then 4 moneths compassed a great part of France trauersed a hundreth daungers passed many places where hee found any thing either before behinde or on his sides but that opposed it selfe against him And like a braue Gentleman hauing separated himselfe from the mutinie of the Rutters and the leaguers forces although the Counte de Tournon and the Lord of Mandelot bereaued him of all means to passe away but onely by armes yet he passed through them like thunder that teareth and scattereth all whatsoeuer lyeth before it and made them know that the valour of a couragious heart is not subiect to long and tedious resolutions which are not executed but in words This place hath somewhat separarated me from the banket made by Monsieur d'Espernon to the Rutters and of the treatie that followed which gaue them libertie and assurance to retire They went vnto Geneua where diuers of the heads whether it were for griefe with languishing or by blows of musket yeelded vp the ghost There the Duke de Bouillon being in the fiue twentie yeare of his age died vppon the eleuenth of Ianuary hauing made his heire the Ladie Charlotte de la Marke his sister charging her to alter nothing in the state nor the religion of the soueranties of Sedan Iamets nor to marry without the aduises of the king of N. the Prince of Conde and Monsieur de Monpensier whom he appoynted his heire with his sonne the heire dying without children with the same charge not to alter any thing in his lands in the which case he substituted the king of Nauarre and after him the Prince of Conde Assoone as the Duke of Lorraine vnderstood of this Princes death hee sent his armies into his countries in defence wherof la Noue his executor entered into armes with protestation that the promise he had made for his deliuery vnto the king of Spaine not to beare armes against him bound him not to refuse his ayde in defence of a young childe against the vsurpation of the Lorraines The Marquesse du Pont eldest son to the Duke of Lorraine and the Duke of Guise against their faith giuen they followed not the armie but the miserable troupe of Rutters to the Mountaine of Saint Claude where they gaue thankes for the good successe of their company and from thence to please their hungrie troupes they trauersed the Counte of Bourgongne entering into the Countes of Mombeliard Hericourt where his men vsed diuers great cruelties and spared not the lands of the Bishoppe of Basle the example and ornament of the good Prelates of Germanie After the bloodie ceasing of so lamentable vengeance vppon a poore innocent people which as yet do feele the losses and destructions of two hundreth Villages the violence vsed to a number of women and maides the massacre of so many olde men the furious and beastly inhumanities of the league they bare the signes of their spoyles into Lorraine where they erected the great confusion that dispearsed it selfe through all the vaines of the estate neuerthelesse it was the glorie of the league the last poynt that ambition hath learned Time and humours are meruellously disposed therevnto All France shewed it selfe much bound vnto it that had deliuered them from the furies of straungers and assured all Catholicque minds The victorie of Auneau Maruaile that a king should be tealous of his vassall is an ordinary song among the people the reioycing of the Cleargie the brauerie of the Gentlemen Of the league the iealousie of the king that knew wel that this Lawrell was not giuen to the league but to disgrace his Maiestie although it was commō in the mouth of honest men that his Maiestie had cōstrained his enemies to yeelde There was no Preacher but
are naturally in vs there would not be wood ynough to burne my subiects I will not doo it I had rather haue a sicke then a dead bodie I will not make religion a Butcherie or the alter of a sacrifice which is not bloodie a pillorie or place of execution no the king of France will no more cause his subiects to bee slaine to make them beleeue hee will neuer vndertake to constraine mens soules as long as their bodies are obedient vnto him It belongeth vnto God to accord these false notes that are heard in the harmonie of his Church They would likewise that I should consent vnto the Cleargie that they may purchase in fee farme such goods as heeretofore haue beene aliened from their Churches and constraine the possessors thereof to sell them againe that is as much to say that I should fight for the Church the Cleargie shall keepe their temporall goods while the people playe the Alkamists with their teeth They will giue the alarme and neuer come to battell All the rest of their articles touching the sale of Huguenots goods and of their disabling are alreadie ordained men are imployed therein all my parliaments are troubled therewith What do they demaund of me which I haue not agreed vnto not beeing able to refuse it and how many things haue I graun-vnto thē which I could refuse because I ought not so to do it There is no sinewe in his polliticke bodie but it is wrested nor any member which doth not languish They haue constrained mee to playe and hazard my estate by chaunce of warres I haue alreadie lost the halfe let them suffer me to withdrawe my selfe into the other halfe and liue in peace Such were the obiections of this Prince at the motions of the leaguers articles but because of nature hee was fearefull feeble and light hee neuer had firme resolution within his minde Princes most commonly do faile by not beleeuing counsell but hee deceiued himselfe by too much crediting The first poynt of this mischiefe was that trueth was kept from him and that men followed his humors Hee was perswaded the strongest part to bee that of the Duke of Guise that all the Townes and Prouinces had their mindes set on him that if hee entered not into it he would bee left alone at the mercie both of the League and the Huguenot Yet he firmly resolued to bee Maister and to range both the one and the other vnder his obedience but it was by a weake meanes imbracing the Duke of Guises part and made himselfe principall of the one side with all seueritie to make warre against the Herereticque speaking of nothing but of a voyage into Poitou to besiege Rochel and to take the Isle of Rhie And that which most fauoured this enterprise was that the Huguenots had lost the Prince of Conde vnder whose valour and generositie they conceiued great hopes and without doubt as being indowed with all the quallities conuenient for a valiant Captaine and otherwise an vnrecouerable enemie of their enemies His disease was violent procured by a nosegaye giuen him by some of his housholde seruants for that vppon Thursday beeing the third day of March halfe an houre after he had supt a great paine in the stomacke shortnesse of breath hardnesse of the bellie and continuall vometing with extreame paine and thirst tooke him And the Saterday after when his Phisitians and Surgeons had imployed all Art experience and fidelitie to heale him growing sicker a generall sufforation of all the powers of his bodie ceased vppon him whereof within an houre after hee died His bodie was opened wherein they found all the nether part of his bellie blacke and burnt the guttes full of reddish water the stomacke aboue the orifice The death of the Prince of Conde saterday the 5. of March pearced cleane through and round about and the vitall powers that of themselues were very helpeful and well composed by reason of the great quantitie of poyson were all vlcered The king of Nauarre at his returne out of Gascongne commanded expresly that all those that were suspected to bee necessarie to the poysoning of the Prince should bee punished for the which some were executed Meane time the King that had the enterprise of the League rather then that of the Huguenots more imprinted in his minde knowing that all their demaunds tended onely to this end to make a perpetuall warre prepared himselfe to preuent it and caused certaine forces to bee assembled vnder the conduct of the Duke d'Espernon against whome all the league discharged their chollor making him the onely argument of the confusion and disorder of all his affaires their iealousie more increasing by the succession of the place of the Admirall and of the gouernment of Normandie which hee had newly receiued after the death of the Duke de Ioyeuse This poynt deserueth to passe two steps out of my matter the Admirall in France is the name of one of the chiefe Magistrates in the Realme Generall and Prince of the seas belonging to the countrie as Eghinard called Ruthland that was Admiral in the time of Charles the great The like authoritie the Marshall of France beareth in an armie by land the same doth the Admirall in a Nauie of ships on the sea but these offices are distinguished for that the subiect is different and diuers There is paine and diligence to bee vsed to place an armie by land in order of battell The like must be vsed to conduct a Nauie of shippes vpon the sea At al times the most warlike countrie of France both by sea land hath had her Admiralles and the Frenchmen of Brittaine Narbonne and Prouence are much commended for their practises and greate dexterities in warres Voyages to the holy land vnder Lewis the 7. and Philip Augustus and Philip le Bel. vppon the sea neuer thelesse this office was neuer in so great glorie and estimation as it hath been since the third line of our kings beeing that which brought pollicie and gouernment into this Monarchie as the first had established and the second increased it by victorious conquests then it was that the names of Constable Great-maister Marshall Admirall and other such like dignities were ordained but that of the Admiral remained vnprofitable while our kings trauelled into the Leuant seas to fight against the Infidelles for in those expeditions they supplyed their wants with vessels which they found nearest to the countrie of Iudea and many times with their Admiralles which they had from Genes Pise Venice and Luques But the Frenchman that neuer continueth long vnder the yoake of any stranger would no more bee gouerned by straunge Admiralles if they bare not the name of Admirall of France although for the most part they were no Frenchmen As in the time of Francis the first Andrew and Philip Dorie Geneuois were made Admirals of the Leuant seas and after left him to serue the Emperour Charles the fift There hath bin
diuers braue and expert Admiralles issued out of France as Enguerrand de Coucy and Hugues Quieret Lewis of Spaine vnder Philip le Bel Aâ—ory Vicount de Narbonne and Iohn de Vienne vnder King Iohn Charles the sixt in whose time the Admiral of France furnished the great armie of twelue hundreth sayle of shippes against the Englishmen Cliret of Brabant Lewis de Coulant vnder Charles the seuenth and Lewis Bastard of Bourbon Iohn of Vienne Admirall and since Constable 1586. Anne de Ioyeuse Admirall 1582. The Duke d'Espernon made Admirall of FraÌ„ce by Parliament the 11. of Ianuarie 1588. The Duke d'Espernon Gouernor of Normandie entred Roanâ— the fourth of May. Earle of Rossillon vnder Lewis the eleuenth and vnder king Frances the Lord of Brion d'Anebaut and la Trimouille for whom the Admiralles of Brittaine and Guyenne were ioyned and made one Gaspart de Coligny was Admirall vnder the same king and confirmed by Henry the second and his children Honorat de Sauoye Marquesse de Villars succeeded him and caused it to bee giuen to Charles de Lorraine Duke of Mayenne that resigned it to Anne de Ioyeuse and after his death the king gaue it to the Duke d'Espernon And to establish him therein presented him in the Court of Parliament and putting off his sword bare-headed and kneeling on his knee hee tooke his oath before the chiefe President where the eloquence of Monsicur d'Espesses the kings Atturney much commended and set foorth the prayses of the Duke Hee succeeded likewise in the gouernment of Normandie and made his entrie into Roane nine daies before the Barricadoes at Parrs Not long before that hee had sent the Regiment of Picardie to lye about Bullen and caused certaine small English boates to descend before the Towne so to impeach the enterprise of the Duke d'Aumale and to preuent that which the said Duke intended against the Towne When the Duke of Guise vnderstood of those troubles in Picardie hee thought the time as then to bee fitte for him to constraine the king eyther to bow or breake to confirme the articles drawne deuised at Nancy and Dyon and to helpe the weakenesse of the Parrissians that without him would haue lost courage And for the same cause hee arriued at Soissons where his Maiestie by Monsieur de Bellieure gaue him to vnderstand that he should do him apleasure if he wold abstaine froÌ„ coÌ„ming to Parris in so troublesome a time wherin so many factioÌ„s raigned that if he came thither against his wil he wold lay the cause The arriuall of the Duke of Guise at Soissons The king prayeth him not to come to Parris vntill the distrusts were laid of the troubles that might arise by his presence vpon him Monsieur de Bellieure who by reason of greatnesse and soundnesse of his iudgement concerning matters of estate and the execution of wise and notable charges to him committed held one of the chiefe places of Councellor about the king vsed many and great reasons to restraine the impetuositie of that prince and to conclude departed from him assuring himselfe that hee had fully disswaded him But his heart attainted with a burning Feuer could finde neither appetite nor pleasure but in that which liked his stomacke beleeued that nothing could hinder him that the heaueÌ„s oght to giue him place that striking with his foote vpon the ground he would make a 100. legions of men to rise that without fear of Iupiters thunderbolts he could rule the chariot of the sun The Parissians had sent for him Left no meanes between the two extremities of his firme resolution but whatsoeuer fell out hee would see the Louure or die in the way And therevppon mounted on horsebacke with eight Gentlemen about nine of the clocke at night leauing his brother the Cardinall of Guise and the Prince de Iuinuille his sonne at Soissons desiring the Archbishop of Lyons to follow him in the morning And so within three houres after the arriuall of Monsieur de Bellieure and about Monday at noone beeing the 9. of May he entered into Parris Sunday the 8. of May 1588. and lighted at the Queen-mothers lodging the Filles Repenties where in great feare half trembling she receiued him led him to the Louure If the streets of Parris had bin as broad as the way of AppieÌ„ they wold hardly haue contained halfe the quantitie of the people that followed this Prince euery man thought himself happy that might put off his hat and kneel on his knee for to salute him The Duke of Guise arriued the Kings not knowing onit all being full of ioyfull cries clapping of hands pleasures and wishes to welcome him He for his part holding his hat in hand answering by his countenaÌ„ce to those populer reioycings marked the most prompt affections to his desire they striuing among themselues who should begin to crie Viue Guise Viue le Pillier del'Eglise Which being heard into the street called S. Honnore where a Gentlewoman sat in a shop she pulled down her maske and spake aloude vnto him vtterring these words Good Prince now you are here we are al safe That done he entered into the kings chamber where he did his dutie to the king but with lesse assurance then ordinary knowing the King would not like well of his comming and in trueth he shewed him no great countenance answering him vnto the reasons hee made touching his iourney to Parris that by M. de Bellieure he had desired him not to come But dinner time approaching they left off the D. of Guise departed to his lodging After dinner he went to visit the Q. in her garden where the king finding him as well as he could dissembled the exterier apparance of yâ— suspition he had conceiued in his heart the D. of Guise iustified his actions with a braue and bolde courage He went to visit the Queen-mother by so much the more as he perceiued thesecret fear of the Kings trembling mind his seruant followers one after the other still entered into Parris for the Archbishop of Lyons being the principal Agent of his Councell arriued vppon Tuesday about dinner time and came not out of the house of Guise vntill the next day that he went to see the Queen-mother being at Masse from thence went with her to her garden where the K. found them he stepped forward to kisse the Kings hand who receiued him with pleasant and chearefull countenance hauing alwayes discouered a certaine inclination that hee had to loue him as knowing him to bee one of the woorthiest Prelates of his order of a prompt and readie witte and wonderfull eloquent and withall remembring that at all times when the stormes of words and reasons were vsed in any matter of estate hee surprised all his Councell Wherevppon hee willingly desired hee had been as much affected to his seruice as to the league wherein hee had entered as al-also in an assured
and Bobier that had laboured for the space of sixe yeares to discouer the same couered and disguised with the Sophisteries and subtilties of their participants Meane time that the estates were busied in the Parliament let vs see what the kings forces did against the enemie The Duke de Neuers led one armie into Poitou and the Duke de Maine conducted the other into Dauphine The armie of the Duke of Neuers in Poictou The Duke de Neuers with a great and strong armie passed into Poitou promising not onely to reduce the whole Prouince vnder the kings obedience but to restore the losse hee had sustained by the battell of Coutrus by some profitable and woorthie exployt hee beeing assisted by Monsieur de la Chastigneraye Maister of the Campe of a Regiment of footemen Monsieur de Sagone Marshall of the light-horse Monsieur de Lauerdin and Monsieur de la Chastre Great-maister of the field the armie being composed of Frenchmen Switzers Italians and diuers voluntary Gentlemen The siege of Manleon The Towne of Manleon was the first place which they pretended to besiege and to the same end it was presently inuironed with great numbers of horse and footemen It is the lawe of armes to punish such as seeking to striue against the streame some to oppose themselues by rash and vaine resolution to hold a fort which of it selfe is wholly weak vndefensable And for that kinde of foolish hardinesse Anne de Monmorancy Constable of France hanged such as hee found in the Castle of Villane and all those that were in a Tower standing in the subburbes of Saint Anthony of Pauie Yet the Garrison of Manleon although they well perceiued both want of amunitions and weaknesse of their walles would neyther parley nor yet yeeld vntill they sawe the last extremitie but when they sought by articles to compound the assaylants vsing all inhumanitie against them beeing disarmed bathed their victorie in the blood of naturall Frenchmen Montague taken From thence they marched towards Montagu where Monsieur de Colombiere Gouernour of the Towne issued and skirmished with the Duke de Neuers forces with equall losse on both sides which done after some resistance made and certaine Cannons shotte against the Towne the souldier fearing the euent of cruel assault not long after drew to an honourable composition and so yeelded the Towne When Montagu had yeelded the armie went to batter la Ganache a Towne with a Castle lying betweene Poitou and Brittaine as I will shewe you heereafter The Duke de Maine at Lyons The Duke de Maine beeing at Lyons and from thence minding to passe into Dauphine found his affection as much cooled as at the first it had beene greatly inflamed and knowing such pretences to bee daungerous and ouer lightly grounded vppon the mutenie of the people hee stayed his proceedings expecting the issue of the Parliament and while hee continued at Lyons Monsieur de Mandelot died beeing in great feare to bee displaced from his gouernment by the Duke de Nemours that had the graunt thereof and for the same cause hee doubted the comming of the Duke de Maine to bee to that end Hee fell sicke about the end of the moneth of October troubled with a windie colicque The sicknesse death of the Lord de Mandelot and certaine fittes of an ague the goute likewise ceasing vppon him and all at once Yet hee seemed not to bee in any great daunger till Sunday the thirteenth of Nouember when hee changed in such sort that on wednesday after in the morning feeling his forces to decay hee began to thinke vppon his end and comforting his Ladie hee besought father Edmond Auger to shewe the king that hee died poore and indebted by reason of his Maiesties seruices Hee recommended his wife and children to the Sheriffes and Magistrates of Lyons desiring them not to shewe themselues friends to mutable fortune that they would not suffer him to die like a â—ancrout and that his goods and mooueables might be openly solde he made the like declaration to the Straungers in the Towne And vppon Saturday at night hee receiued the extreame vnction which done hee besought God that it would please him yet to giue him life for the space of two yeares longer if hee thought it good for the profit of the Church the seruice of the king and the commoditie of the Cittie of Lyons Presages of the leaguers affaires The next day the Duke de Maine went to visit him where for a certain time hee had some conference with him And this Gentleman that had alwaies had a great insight into the affaires of the League by a spirit although not propheticall yet prognosticating said vnto him that the end of the Parliament at Blois would not bee so agreeable as the beginning that the wound of the Barricadoes of Parris was yet bleeding and that the taking of the Marquisat of Saluces had much increased it that the Duke of Guise should neuer finde the meanes to pacifie the sea by him so much troubled and tormented and that the supposed ayde of straungers which hee expected would fayle him hee died the foure and twentieth of Nouember and was buryed vpon Saint Andrewes day at whose funerall the Ladie his wife shewed both by her apparrell honour and order that amitie continueth as well after as before mans death Father Edmond Auger made the funerall Sermon in presence of the Duke de Maine and among other things commending his person saide that hee had neuer subscribed to the League and that hee died constant in religion and the seruice of the King But now let vs returne againe vnto the Parliament where the king laboured with great paine to procure the remedies which hee expected from the wholesome counsell that should bee giuen vnto him and like a wise Pilot that scoureth and maketh clean the plankes of his shippe thereby to clense it of all filth that might hang vppon it and so to hinder the like fish from catching holde thereon which in the middle of the streame vseth to staye the course of the greatest shippe that is hee sought to cutte off all the difficulties that hindered his Realm from passing out of the troublesome waues of long and continuall warres Remore a fish stayeth a shippe and thereby could not arriue at the hauen of happie peace but as hee continued in his great labour and holy desire that goodly harmony of the assembly of the estates beganne to iarre vppon the newes of the taking of the Marquisat of Saluce Newes of the taking of Carmagnoles by the Duke of Sauoye and of Carmagnoles the Frontier-Towne of France and Italie The estate of the Duke of Sauoye I must heerevnto adde this discourse which of force I must declare at large the better to make it knowne first shewing the estate of the Duke of Sauoy then what were the principall causes of this enterprise the right and reasons wherewith hee defended
and such as made no account of him the Duke of Espernon by letters assured him that a great conspiracie was intented against his person The Duke de Maine commaunded a Gentleman to shewe the king that the Duke of Guise sought most ambitiously to climbe aboue the degree of a subiect that hee practised some secret matter contrary to his Maiesties seruice Al this agreeth with the Kings authoritie and that the execution thereof would shortly bee performed The Duke of Aumale sent Madame d'Aumale his wife to shew the king of a secret Councell holden vnder a prodigious attempt against his person The King determined to put the Duke of Guise to death The kings heart by these aduises beeing stirred vp with a newe force and liuelier courage and minding to preuent the Duke of Guise discouered his intent to foure of his friends whom hee knewe to bee as much affected to the suretie and welfare of his Maiestie as wholly estranged from the pernicious Councell of the League and shewed them that he was fully resolued to quit himselfe of the Duke of Guise who as a new world was alreadie worshipped of all the people Introductiō◠against the duke of Guise They set before his eyes the register of this Princes actions those specially that offended the king and his estate namely the edict of vnion wherwith hee armed himselfe as with a target made of Diamonds That the Duke of Guise holding no other quallitie in France then onely of a meere subiect had erected a League raised men of war practised with straungers without authoritie aduise or permission from the king enterprised vpon townes and troubled and broken publike peace That by the Edict of vnion hauing sworne to leaue all leagues and associations as well within as without the Realm he ceased not to continue his practises and deuises with the Cardinall Morosin and the Ambassadour of Spaine assuring them that hee ment not to leaue off the good intelligence hee had with their Maisters That hee had not broken but rather confirmed and continued the particular confederacies sworne with the Gouernours of the townes of France and others therby still to maintaine the souldiers on his side against the seruice of the king That by his billes hee had declared that he had not taken armes but for the seruice of God and of the King and yet by the surprising of townes in Picardie hee had impeached the aduancement of the armie that should haue passed into Guyenne against the Huguenots and in all places exclaimed against the Kings actions esteeming him fitter to were a sacke then a Scepter That hee had declared that hee bare no armes but for the assurance of the Catholicques in France and of their religion and to impeach the succeson of the king of Nauarre to the Crowne and yet the King had beene aduertised by the saide King of Nauarre that the Duke of Guise had sought his fauour so farre as that hee offered him his sonne in hostage and that he with seuenteen Princes of his house would come to visit him as farre as the riuer of Loire to doo him seruice and to make him the greatest and peaceablest king of France that euer was the Bailiffe of the Mountaines of Dauphine and Monsieur de Bethune beeing imployed in those affaires and a great person of estate that neuer could indure such Petti-Maisters after the king of Nauarre hauing discouered that this practise could not bee for the good and quietnesse of this Realme aduertised the Queen-mother That after the pardon of his treasons for associating and practising with the enemies of this Realme graunted vnto him by his Maiestie many letters had beene intercepted tending to great purposes to trouble both the King and his estate That the taking of the Marquisat of Saluces was done by his aduise and that then when his Maiestie complained of that iniurie and that it was requisite to continue peace in France and to make warre against straungers who in a brauado sought to dismember the estate hee stood against it and saide they ought rather first to heale the interior vlcer then to enter into warres that any waye touched the superficiall euill That his participants publishing his praises aboue those of the King caused it to bee sung about the streetes and in the Townes that helde with the League that the Duke of Guise had constrained the King against his will to make waarre against the Huguenots and that hee had solde the Marquisat of Saluces to the Duke of Sauoy to the end that vnder pretence of recouering it againe hee might diuert the warres from Guyenne That in stead of ayding his Maiestie and to imploy their liues and meanes in reducing the Townes holden by the Huguenots his Captaines and men of warre stayed at Blois vppon assurance giuen them of a commodious change That hee had caused bookes to bee imprinted thereby to breake the lawfull succession of the Crowne in fauour of the house of Lorraine That his seruaunts vppon the day of the Barricadoes in Parris perswading themselues that as then hee hadde mounted to the highest degree of his greatnesse saide openly throughout his lodging that it was no time to make any more delaies for such were their proper termes and that there rested nothing to doo but to conduct their Maister to Reims That hee caused triumph to bee made in Parris as if it had beene in a Towne new conquered that his Lacqueys had more credit with the people then his Maiesties principall seruants that hee boasted both by word of mouth and writing that it was in his power to hold the king that is to stay him prisoner or else to vse him woorse That he boasted to haue stayed the sacking of Parris and that he could arest the king beeing in the middle of fiue or sixe thousand men and all of them the kings friends and yet hee entered into Parris but with eight horse hee was so well assured of the good wils and mindes of the Inhabitants that receiued him with the cries and open reioycings which onely belong vnto a soueraigne Prince That the king had no meanes to appoynt a Knight of the watch within Parris nor to dispose of the Bastille at his pleasure That hee had so intised the states to fauour his ambition that the Deputies spake nothing but what pleased him and had no other billes nor petitions to present but such as had been first examined and perused by his Councell and that it seemed that this assembly at Blois was wholly made to seale a contract of some new royaltie and that alreadie diuers said that he made too long delay to execute his intent That hee spake not but with authoritie like a king vsing words full of brauadoes disdaine and threatnings against his Maiesties subiects That hee spake in all affaires as if hee were chiefe soueraigne that hee had constrained the king to prouide a succescor as if hee lay at the poynt of death That hee had
sent his letters pattents sealed with the great seale vnto the Inhabitants of Romorantin forbidding them not to administer victualles nor amunition to the company of Monsieur de Souuray and they had expresse commaundement to send vnto him That in presence of the Queene-mother hee had refused his Maiestie to subscribe to the ordinance which hee ment to publish concerning certaine treasons as then practised and pretended That his only intent was in his person as a supposed branch of the house of Charlemaine to reestablish the greatnesse and vsurped authoritie of the ancient Maiors of the Pallace to the ende the king should onely beare the name and that hee might deale with him as Charles Martel did with Chilperic Some that were present at this Councel the more to stirre vp the kings minde by the auncient perill of an vnrecouerable fall from his authoritie to shewe him that his Maiestie was to remember the dreame he had before the League beganne which was that the Lyons and wilde beasts by him nourished in his Castle of the Louure deuoured him The kings dreame or vision and that beeing mooued with this vision hee had caused them to bee killed and among the rest one Lyon being the most furious beast of them all Lastly they put the King in minde of Salcedoes processe which had discouered all the pretence of the Councell holden at Nancy the first article whereof was to cease vpon the Kings person of the Councell of fiue persons holden at Parris in the time of Lent in An. one thousand fiue hundreth eightie seuē wherin the Duke de Maine couertly inuayed against his Maiestie Of the memorials taken about the Aduocate Dauid of the letters sent by the Queene of Denmarke to her sonne the Duke of Lorraine which were found about the Abbot of Billy comming from Rome and withall the attempt of the Barricadoes was not forgotten therewith to end their Councell Considerations that stayed the kings minde But three things caused the kings minde to wauer and to staye long before hee resolued vpon it one the respect of the Pope the second his oath made touching the protection of the states and the third the troubles that this execution would breed by their meanes that fauoureth the Duke of Guise Touching the first it was shewed him that his holinesse beeing aduertised of the Duke of Guise at the erecting of the Barricadoes had ceased vpon the Bastille and Bois de Vincennes hee said vnto the Bishop of Parris that the enterprise was ouer bolde that it touched the estate and that the offence would prooue vnrecouerable That his holinesse had often written vnto his Maiestie that hee should assure himselfe of the estates what meanes soeuer hee made and that in these so apparant daungers there is no remedie whatsoeuer but it may bee vsed that hee needed not to inquire if it were lawfull to be done and that it was for the same cause that his Maiestie had obtained a Confessor by him to bee resolued of all things touching or concerning the holy Sea of Rome That the heads and authors of factions are so odious vnto Princes iealous of the quietnesse of the estate that therein they pardon not their owne blood as king Philip that pardoned not Charles his owne sonne that sought to surprise the low Countries And the Duke of Guise when speeches were vsed touching the disobediences of the Duke of Aniou deceased had alwaies this example of extreame iustice readie to produce It is knowne why the Cardinall of Caraffe was strangeled Pope Sixtus at this day liuing in the first yeare of his pontificates put to death the Counte de Pepoly one of the most famous families in all Italie because hee kept certaine banished persons his kinsmen secretly in his house In this Realme of France Iohn Earle of Harcourt of the blood royal of Scotland Lewis de Luxembourg Constable of France Iaques Counte de la Marche issued from the house of Castille diuers others of as great quallitie and estate as the Duke of Guise haue indured shamefull ends because they practised and made secret leagues with forraine Princes and kings The Pope thoght that the Duke of Guise had borne armes for the religiō but after the Barricadoes once erected hee beleeued it not and although religion were the cause of the warres yet should it not bee lawfull without the kings authoritie The example is both good and memorable in the Historie of the king of Spaine called Leoncilde both an hereticque and an Arrian This Barbarian pursued the Christians and pardoned not his owneson that had bin instructed and conuerted vnto Christian religion by Leander Bishop of Tolede hee banished him out of kingdome This young Prince being mooued at the miseries and persecutions of the Christians in his countrie Qui contra genitorem quamuis hereticum talia cogitarer didtwise raise armes against his father at the first he was ouerthrowne and sent into exile at the second time he was put to death and slaine vpon Easterday S. Gregory Archbishop of Tours in this example noteth the effects of the iudgements of God condemneth the boldnesse of this Prince that The king is not bound by oath nor obligation vnto his subiects rebelled against his father and his king although both an hereticque an Arrian Touching the oath which is the second consideration that stayed his Maiestie and which is neuer broken nor neglected but repentance followeth it was tolde the King that euen as betweene the bond-man and the Lord there is no obligation to bee made that there can bee no strickt promise betweene the subiect and the Prince that the promises made are not to bee obserued that if faith bee not to bee holden with him that cannot iustly bee called an enemie and that hath no authoritie to make warres who by the lawe is termed a theefe or a rouer the Prince is not bound to keepe his promise with a meane subiect who by his rebellion hath first violated his owne faith vnto his Prince Necessitie hath no lawe wee must vse time as occasion serueth that is when necessitie compelleth and when men break their faith and promise In great assemblies great examples of punishing rebelles are done and executed as at the marriage of the Emperour Zeno with the daughter of Ardaburis where the Bridegome was slaine Balisene and the Emperours father in lawe committed prisoners The kings of England and Polonia haue often summoned Parliaments therein to take and surprise the Lords that had rebelled against them Our kings haue arested them beeing at their bankets These great motions haue alwaies some extraordiry event but necessitie and publike vtilitie doth authorise them A league grounded vpon the good will of the people The third obiectiō of this vnresolued resolutiō was the great credit which the Duke of Guise had gotten among the people wherevpon it was shewed the king that as the said Princes part had no other credit but among the multitude
of the cōmon people so there is no foundation more ruinous vnstable That the principall families in Townes his Maiesties officers the gouernours and men of commandement will not stirre but onely to cause the people to arise which will be altogither abashed seeing him thrown down that was the principall of their rebellion that the Courts of Parliaments in Parris and Roane the Towne of Orleans beeing the Citadell of France and Lyons the Bulwarke of his Realme would neuer change partie nor yet estraunge themselues from the fidelitie of good and true subiects That the Duke of Guise is like a great tree that standing vpright and hauing a large roote causeth the branches to spring out and the leaues to flourish A comparison made vpon the death of the Duke of Guise but when it is lopped downe to the bare bodie as long as any sappe is within it it will bring foorth some small twigges and a fewe pasle leaues but if the heate of the sunne doth once pearce it that litle sap that resteth consumeth the tree dieth her leaues hang readie to fall off because the ridicall humour is wanting and such as hidde themselues vnder the shadowe of her branches are all discouerd And because they perceiued the K. ballancing his resolutiō towards the rigor of his vengeāce such as feared least he shuld alter his mind that the opinion they had holdē in this Councel would be discouered assured him that the D. of Guise wold first begin to vnwind his M. spindle that he wold surprise him that it was alreadie published within Parris that this year 1588. is the climaticall and last yeare of his raigne that alreadie it was determined how long he shuld be holdē in a Cloister The pollitike and unlitary discourse of Monsieur de la Noue that the cizors had bin shewed wherwith he shuld be shauē put into a Monastarie like Childeric that is was said that a raisor should make the last crowne of the three which the king expected The king beleeued that the life of the Duke of Guise would be his death and therfore he was fully resolued to rid him of his life Aduise giuē the king to keepe the D. of Guise in prison A Knight of both orders thought it more expedient to keepe him in prison to the end that hee might bee iudged and condemned like a traitor but the rest of the Councell saide who will accuse who will labour against him who will execute the iudgement among so many participants and friends that will mooue both heauen and earth to saue his life In matters of treason the punishment must first proceed before iudgement as lightning cōmeth before thunder and as this crime is altogither extraordinary in the head the like is the forme of the punishment Wee must leaue the formes and manners of iustice Andronadorus and Themistius slaine to preuent and punish the culpable and then at leisure to frame their processe The Senate of Siracuse caused Andronadorus and Themistius that sought to renue the tyrannie of Nero to bee presently slaine by the hands of the Magistrate himselfe The Romanes beeing a Common-wealth so humane so polliticque and so great an enemie to contrary actions held it for a maxime that where the estate is in daunger men may beginne to remedie by execution And therefore Cato in his Oration against Catilina saith that we must rather quit our countrie of a traitor then consult what death hee shall die hauing taken him To put the Duke of Guise in prison would bee as much as if wee should take a Bore in a net that beeing ouer strong would breake the cordes and which is to bee feared would spoyle both the hunter and his hounds all at one time When the serpent is slaine the poyson hath no more force Incide semel quicquid iucidendum est Lips A dead man maketh no more warre it is dangerous both to delay and to disclose this counsell and therefore punishment is more necessarie then the force of iustice The Duke of Guise was aduertised from all places that it would be dangerous for him to stay longer at the Parliament but the more hee entered into distrust the more the fauours and vnaccustomed kindnesse on the kings behalfe vsed towards him stayed his intent one of his principall Councellours tolde him that withdrawing himselfe from the Parliament he should beare the blasone to haue abandoned the countrie of France in so important an occasion that hee would easily loose his countrie seeing hee forsooke it that his enemies would make their profit of his withdrawing from thence and that they would ouerthrow al that which with so much paine and pursuite had been procured for the assurance of religion Want of prouidence in men It is straunge that men beeing at the poynt of their misfortunes do oftentimes loose al prouidence wisedome iudgement to auoyde the mischiefe that is readie to fall vppon them There are certaine birds which foresee tempests and knowe on what side the winde and stormes will happen Rats forsake a house that for want of reparation is readie to fall but men not only close their eyes against the mischiefe but run headlong into the middle thereof The Duke of Guise was aduertised from all parts both within and without the Realme that the Parliament would ende with a bloodie tragedie The day before his death as hee sat downe at the table to dinner hee found a litle scroule of paper vnder his napkin wherein was written that he should looke vnto himself and that there would be some mischief wrought against him in the same paper with his own hand hee wrote two words saying they dare not and so threw it vnder the table There was no other speech among the states but that the execution should bee done vppon Saint Thomas day the aduises came both from Rome and Spaine the Astrologians filled their Almanakes with threatnings and the euening before his mischiefe the Duke of Guise was assured by the Duke d'Elboeof that the next day hee should bee slaine But all this notwithstanding he was so carelesse of his safetie that in a manner hee was wholly blinded and forgot himselfe Hee kept the keyes of the Castle as beeing Great-maister but the euening before his death they fell into his enemies hands who thereby had the meanes to bring in those that ought both to aduance and execute the kings pleasure vppon him The king in the meane time that feared to bee preuented not minding any longer to delay his purpose thought to execute it at a supper which the Archbishop of Lyons should make both him and the Cardinall his brother vppon the Sunday before Saint Thomas day but hee referred the execution vntill the Tuesday following the Duke of Guise hauing but small company with him in his chamber yet hee let that day passe and went to walke in his Garden followed by the Duke of Guise who approaching his death had certaine speeches with
the king that much offended him whereby hee changed his collor into furie And after many words both ouer hardy and bold wherein hee had been instructed and counselled by Cardinall Morosin hee perceiued that all things proceeded from euill to woorse and that the things which seemed curable were become incurable The king suspected the Duke of Guise to vse these speeches either to induce him to bereaue himself of his authoritie and to giue him all soueraigne power or else to find some means of discontentment that thereby he might breake vp the Parliament and so make his Maiestie odious to his subiects wherewith hee could not so much dissemble his displeasure but that such as were present perceiued well that it would bee the meanes to open the woundes that were thought to bee healed he determined to stop the hopes and enterprises of this Duke with the price of his life and no more to indure so many insolencies and braueries of the league that esteemed it a title of honour to beare the name of Guisart and of infamie and dishonor to haue the name of a seruant to the king The death of the Duke of Guise vpon the 23. of December 1588. Vppon Fryday the three and twentieth of December hee sent for his Councell and willed them to assemble somewhat sooner then ordinarily they vsed to do because hee determined after dinner to go to Nostredame de Clery which is betweene Blois and Orleans there to keepe his Christmas The euening before hee had sent into diuers places to assure such townes as hee iudged to bee most wauering and prouided for all things necessary beeing in the middle of so many seruitors of the League and sent for certaine of the fiue and fortie to the number of seuen shewing them that hee had indured too much at the hands of the principall Ruler of the League that hee would no longer haue a Maister and that hee had determined to put the Duke of Guise to death The order of the execution beeing deuised the Cardinalles de Vandosme de Guise and de Gondy the Archbishop of Lyons the Duke of Guise the Marshalles of d'Aumont and de Rets Monsieur d'O Monsieur de Rambouillet Princes Prelates and Lords of the Councell Monsieu de Maintenon Monsieur Marcel and Monsieur de Petremolle came to sit in Councell and the king had giuen order to shut the Castle Gates assoone as they were entered There is nothing that so much iniureth the trueth of a Historie as passion which maketh mans iudgement to yeelde which way it will and causeth him to erre and to seeke to disguise the trueth Diuersitie and contrarietie in Historians There is a maruellous vncertaintie in the circumstances of this Historie wherevnto euery man giueth what shewe and colour it pleaseth him and turneth the fairest side vnto his passion so that among so many varieties of iudgement a man can hardly finde a certaine trueth Some write that as the Duke of Guises eye on that side his face where he had the scarre began to water not finding a hand-cherchef in his pocket hee desired Monsieur Otoman Treasurer of the house that stood by him to take the paines to go to the chamber-doore to see if hee could finde any of his Pages or Lacqueys and to commaund them to fetch him one and that Monsieur de l'Archan Captaine of the guard caused one to bee fetched by Saint Prix chiefe Groome of the kings chamber Others say that as the Duke of Guise stayed till all the Councell were come The Duke of Guise was in a new sute of russâ—â— hee talked with the Archbishop of Lyons who perceiuing him to be in a new suite and that somewhat thinne sayd vnto him that the indisposition of the time being colde and moyst required a warmer kinde of garment and that vppon those speeches his nose bled he was a colde hee commaunded one of the officers of the Councel-chamber to make a fire and one called Fontaine to fetch him a hand-cherchef He that wrote the recuell of the third volume concerning the league saith that the Duke of Guise before hee went out of the Councel-chamber sent a Page into his owne chamber to fetch him a cleane hand cherchef and that his Secretary in one the corners thereof tyed a small note in writing for an aduertisement vnto the Duke his Maister withall speede to leaue the Councell otherwise it would cost him his life And that the handcherchef was brought but not deliuered beeing taken from the Page togither with the note as he went vp the staires The Councell beeing set about eight of the clocke in the morning and reasoning of that which Monsieur Petremolle had proposed The Lord of Pretremolle vnderstandeth their agreements the Duke of Guise felt certaine straunge motions at his heart with diuers extraordinary passions his spirit beeing the Prophet of his euill fortune that ensued and in that distrust hee felt a weaknesse at his heart wherewith hee willed the Vsher of the Councel-chamber to go to Saint Prix to fetch him some preserued Lemons and hee sent him some prunes of Brignoles and reisons of the sunne whereof hee eate and put the rest into a cup wherein they were brought With that the King sent for him by Monsieur de Reuol one of his Secretaries and as hee went out of the Councel-chamber to enter into the kings lodging and that hee lifted vppe the Tapistrie to go in hee perceiued himselfe to bee charged both with Rapiers and Poinyards by fiue or sixe of the fiue and fortie but they could not enter so faste vpon him but that he defended himselfe till he made them driue him once about the chamber minding not to leaue his life like a coward thereby to shew the last signe of his inuincible courage that made him so much esteemed and as yet giueth an honourable memorie of him to all those that commend the valour of a valiant courage The same Collector of the proceedings of the league turneth the bias an other way with an ouer thorny and sharpe iudgement and a ballance too much vnequall setting down this action contrary to the trueth for hee reporteth it in these words saying The Duke of Guise thinking to go into the kings chamber and issuing out of the Councel chamber into the entrie that leadeth to the kings lodging redoubled his distrusts and would haue returned backe againe which neuerthelesse he did not And it had oftentimes beene tolde him that Monsieur de Longnac had enterprised to kill him in such maner that he hated him and had him in great suspition and as hee went towards the kings chamber hee perceiued Monsieur de Longnac sit vppon a trunke with his legges crossed thinking verely hee had beene there of purpose to assayle him as shewing to bee mooued with most violent distrust and deepe suspition and although the said Monsieur de Longnac mooued not the Duke of Guise notwithstanding thought to runne at him and
layde hand on his rapier being halfe drawne as then hauing his cloake cast about him like a scarfe which hee vsed ordinarily to do and his rapier vnder his cloake which by that meanes hee could not so hastily pull out but that som of those that were in presence perceiuing him to bee so bold at the kings chamber dore preuented him This is the aduise of the Collector the noyse and bustling among them was presently heard within the Councell-chamber which made the Archbishoppe of Lyons to come foorth and went to knock at the chamber doore where as then they had newly slaine the Duke of Guise and yet hee came time ynough thither to heare his last words The astonishment of the Cardinall of Guise The Cardinall of Guise was in a maruellous maze his sences troubled and his courage abated and as hee sought the doore to go out he with the Archbishop of Lyons was arested by Monsieur de Larchan and his guard that made conscience to lay hands vppon them because of their order They desired Monsieur de Larchan to bring them into some chamber that they might not be a wonder to such as passed by wherewith they were Iedde into a litle chamber ouer the kings lodging made not long before therein to lodge the Feuillans and Capucins where for a time they remained without either seate or fire The Cardinall of Guise could not cease by his words to poure out the heate of his passions and his greefes and in that chollor spake certain words which in a quiet and more sencible minde hee would not haue vttered so that hee renued the Kings furie who therewith commaunded la Bastier and Monsieur de Valence two of the fiue and fortie to kill him The one refused the commission saying that his hands should neuer bee defiled with the blood of a man of the Church The other determined to execute the Kings pleasure and beeing accompanied with fixe of his companions hee mounted vp the staires close to the chamber doore where hee was there they stood disputing which of them should beginne and as hee thought to enter hee felt a certaine motion that stopped the heate of his furie The imprisonment of the Cardinal of Bourbon and made him to godowne presently after the Duke of Guise was slaine the king appoynted a guard to attend vppon the Cardinall of Bourbon who as yet was in his bed and to stay Madame de Nemours the Duke de Nemours and the Duke d'Al-boeuf The Prince of Iuinuille The memories of the League write that the great Prior rose vp and went very early to call the Prince de Iuinuille to play a set at tennis whereon they had agreed the night before and finding him in his bed desired him to rise who being soone vp and speedily made readie whether it were because the great Prior was presently followed by certaine of the guard or otherwise it is not certainely knowne he entered in distrust and presently after would haue forced a doore that issued out of his chamber and so haue saued himselfe wherewith the guard tooke him And the great Prior perceiuing by that meanes that their set would not go forward hee tooke his leaue and departed but the trueth is that when the Duke of Guise was slaine the Prince Iuinuille his sonne was hearing Masse in the Chappell of the Castle and comming out from thence as he thought to go vp the staires to find the great Prior with whom he had made a match to play at tennis hee was stayed by the Archers and seeking to defend himselfe they held him and led him into the chamber of the great Prior. Meane time the Switzers were set to keepe the Duke of Guises lodging that no man might come foorth Monsieur de Hautefort Monsieur de Pericard chiefe Secretary and Monsieur de Barnardin chiefe Gentleman of the chamber to the Duke of Guise were taken It is said that Pericard beeing brought to this extremitie either to speake for life or else confesse for death disclosed all the secrets of the League and wholly instructed the king of his Maisters intent Monsieur de Richelieu Marshall of the house accompanied with his Archers and certaine souldiers of the companie of Mōsieur de Gast went into the Town-house where the third estate were assembled and there laide hands vpon the President de Neuilly the Prouost of Merchants in Parris Compan and Corteblance Sheriffes of the said Towne Monsieur le Roy Gouernour of the Towne of Amiens the Counte de Brissac Monsieur de Bois Dauphine and other Gentlemen affectioned to the Duke of Guise that were all arested the rest stayed neither for bootes nor spurres to get them thence this accident being so fearefull vnto them Monsieur de la Chastre iustifieth himselfe The Duke of Guise had two principall seruants that were as disposers of all his secret intents the one the Archbishop of Lyons the other Monsieur de la Chastre The first was safe ynough from any more troubling the king but touching the second hee had him in great distrust by reason of the perfect amitie that hee bare vnto the Duke of Guise but assoone as he had receiued the newes hee went presently to the Duke de Neuers in the armie vnder whom hee was Marshall and saide vnto him that although he had alwaies beene a seruant to the Duke of Guise yet hee still held and continued his faith constant vnto the King and because the great amitie hee bare vnto the Duke of Guise might cause him to be suspected by the King hee willingly yeelded himselfe into the Duke de Nemours hands to iustifie his actions and not long after he went in person to present himselfe vnto the king assuring him that from that time forward to become his faithfull seruant Monsieur d'Antragues in all haste mounted on horsebacke to assure the King of the Towne of Orleans but there he found Monsieur de Roissieu who Orleans holden for the League the same morning had been the with D. of Guise and perceiuing the Guard to bee stricktlier disposed then ordinarily they were and knowing the kings commaundement to shut the gates while the Councell sat hee entered into a maruellous apprehension of the cause presently departed out of Blois to take order for the Town of Orleans sending expresse messengers in all hast to aduertise the Duke de Maine his Maister beeing at Lyons The Queen-mother aduertised of the Duke of Guises death The first thing that the king did after hee came out of his chamber was to beare the newes vnto the Queene his mother to whom hee said that as then he was absolute king and that he had no more companions She at the first was strangely abashed and said vnto the king that it would haue fallen out hardly for him if he had not taken order for the assurance of the towns where the name and memorie of the duke of Guise had credit and authoritie Councelling
him by the Cardinall de Gondy to aduertise the Popes Legate which done shee went to visit the Cardinall of Bourbon that lay sicke and was kept prisoner And assoon as he espied her with tears in his eies he spake vnto her and said Ah Madame you haue brought vs hither vnto the slaughter She that seemed to be much abashed at so violent vnexpected change that then had happened assured him that shee neither had giuen consent nor aduise to any such thing and that it was a most incredible greefe vnto her soule The death of the Queene-mother vpon the fift of Ianuary 1589. But the Cardinal redoubling his complaints shee left him striken at the heart with so great greefe that presently shee went to bed and died therevppon the fift of Ianuary after much lamented by the king her sonne who as yet had need of her counsell The king going out of his mothers chamber went to heare masse where at large hee informed the Legate of the causes that had constrained him to put the Duke of Guise to death as hauing attempted against his person About euening the Cardinall and the Archbishop of Lyons were taken out of the chamber wherein they had been shut to leade them into an other stronger and darker then the first in the highest part of the Castle But sorrow and greefe had so much seized vppon the Cardinall that what apprehension of death so euer he must haue he could not chuse but sleepe assoone as hee was layde vppon the mattresse prepared for him After his first sleepe his spirits reuiued and considering the extream imbasing of his greatnesse and the fall of his house he complained to himselfe of his misfortunes The Archbishop of Lyons vsed al the meanes he could to disswade him from the thinking of any other thing then onely of death which he suspected to bee the ende of both their persons They imployed all their Philosophie to make it seeme easie and lesse fearefull thereby to dispoyle it of the horrible and straunge shape wherewith it is figured vnto vs. They confessed themselues each to other reconciling themselues to God committing their causes vnto him and in that conceit of death they only attended the commandement when and where they should receiue With that the Cardinall had desire to sleepe vntill morning that the Archbishop of Lyons rose vp left him sleeping not long after he waked him to rise to Martins The king in the mean time was counselled yea solicited by most violent reasons to put the Cardinal to death which counsel at the first Iustice regardeth not the qualities of men seemed perilous vnto him considering the quallitie of that Prelate beeing a Peer of France Archbishop of Reims Cardinall of Rome and President of his Order in the Parliament but after he had been shewed that iustice hath her eyes closed not to behold the quallities of men and that the greater authoritie a man is in the greater is his fault that treason is more apparant and a worse example in a Cardinall then in a simple Priest That the Cardinall of Guise would succeed in the credit of his brother and that hee had alreadie vsed threatning speeches hee determined to make him follow after his brother the Duke of Guise and therevppon commaunded Monsieur de Gast to kill him who excused himself of that commission saying it was not a thing conuenient for a Gentleman of his calling But in fine for foure hundreth Crownes they found foure instruments to execute that commission One of them went into the chamber where the Cardinal sat and making low reuerence told him the king sent for him The Cardinall before hee went asked if hee sent not likewise for the Archbishop of Lyons but aunswere was made that he onely must come vnto him wherevpon with an assured countenance that not seeming to thinke vpon the mischiefe that attended on him about three steps within the dore hee bad the Archbishop of Lyons farewell who perceiuing the Cardinall to go without any apprehention of death said vnto him Monsieur I pray you thinke vppon God at the which word the Cardinall ceised with feare was abashed and turned his head towards the Archbishop who at that instant fell downe vppon his knees before the Crucifix recommending his soule vnto God beleeuing stedfastly that they would do the like to him that he supposed they ment to execute vpon the Cardinall who beeing about three or foure pases without the chamber was inclosed by foure men that with blowes of rapiers poinyards and partisans dispatched him of his life and beeing slaine they stripped him The King going to Masse accompanied by the Cardinall of Vandosme and others met the Barron de Lux who falling downe on his feete offered his head to saue the Archbishop of Lyons his vncle The king that loued the Gentleman and that desired not to loose such a Prelate thinking by his meanes to attaine vnto the Quintessence of the Leaguers deuises assured him of his life but not of his libertie Not long after the king sent Monsieur Guiotard and Monsieur Languetot two of his priuie Councell with a Clarke to examine the Archbishop touching the causes and accusations layde against the Duke of Guise He said vnto them that they being Lay-men had not any iurisdiction ouer an Archbishop and that hee beeing such might not aunswere vnto them desiring them not to trouble him any more therein The answer of the Archbishop of Lyons vpon the Duke of Guises accusatiō They returned this answere vnto the King who presently sent the Cardinall de Gondy to perswade him to satisfie his commaundement and to aunswere to the propositions that should bee made vnto him the Archbishop aunswered him and saide that hee could say nothing against the Cardinall nor the Duke of Guise his brother with whom hee had imbarked himselfe that for his owne person hee neither could nor ought to aunswere before any man but the Pope or to those whom it should please him to appoynt and that as Primate of France he had no other Iudge And that that the Cardinall de Gondy himselfe beeing Bishop of Parris was vnder his primatie that if the Cadinall Morosin Legate for his holinesse by the aduise of other Prelates assembled in the parliament thought it conuenient for him to answere he wold follow their resolutiō and that so doing it shuld be they not the Arch. of Lyons that shuld break the Priuileges immunities of the church The king to the contrary esteemed that considering the quallitie and importance of the cause he was not bound to haue recourse vnto the Pope to examine the trueth of the Duke of Guises actions It was shewed him The king hath power ouer Bishops that the priuiledge which the Archbishop demaunded much derogated the soueraigntie and power of his Maiestie who at all times had iurisdiction ouer the Bishops of his Realme specially in things touching the Crowne and when processe was to be
and of the Huguenots and to conclude so much despised all things which neuerthelesse within one moneth after hee was constrained to do that within sixe weekes hee perceiued himselfe to bee reduced onely to the Realme of Tours Blois and Baugency The fourth of January 1589. And so after the death of those two Princes of Lorraine and the imprisonment of the rest that were most suspected despising all the aduise giuen him to enter first into the field and that doing so hee should haue a great aduantage vppon his enemies hee commaunded the estates to proceede with the Parliament They presented him the billes of the three estates and againe the third time the Edict of vnion was published by Monsieur Ruze and sworne by his Maiestie with most solemne protestation to obserue and cause it to bee holden for a lawe of the Realme The king of Nauar vnderstandeth of the death of the Duke of Guise the 26. of December Lachrymas non sponte cadentes effudit genitúsque expressit pectore lato His Councell besought him to reiourne the Parliament vntill an other time but hee was so much affected to heare and determine vpon their billes that hee forgot both the care of his person and estate and would not leaue off the assembly vntill hee heard that the Duke de Maine was alreadie before the subburbes of Parris and that hee went to ayde Orleans with all those with whom hee had practised to reuenge the deathes of his two bretheren The king of Nauarre receiued the newes of this execution beeing at Saint Iohn d'Angely by two Postes expresly sent from Blois on horsebacke to certifie him thereof And he that was neuer found to be voyde of great modestie in his most haughtie enterprises nor yet without constancie in all the greatest crosses which both time and men had wrought against him bewailed not so much the death as the euill fortune of the house of Guise it is the nature of those that are most couerteous not to behold the head of their enemie but with a sad and sorrowfull eye Antigonus bewailed Pyrrus Caezar Pompey Rene duke of Lorraine Charles Duke of Brurgongne and the Earle of Montfort Charles Earle of Blois It is true that hee knewe this accident would bee a great helpe touching his iustification that thereby hee was discharged from beeing cause of the mischiefe of ciuill warres and that the king hauing iudged and found the Duke of Guise to bee most culpable touching the troubles of the estate had punished him according to his desert He said that al the world he onely excepted imagined mischief of the house of Lorraine and would bee glad to see the indignation declarations and forces of the king his Lord bent against them But for his part hee could not doo it neither yet doth it but only that of two euils he is constrained to chuse the least Yet did he not refraine to pursue his enterprise against the Towne of Niort which was in this maner The troupes that were to execute the same vnder the conduct of Mousieur de S. Gelais giuing foorth that they went for Congnac by night marched within halfe a myle of the towne the lathers and other warrelike amunitions passing about a bowe-shot from the walles and because the moone shined very bright they were forced to stay till it was downe least the assaylants should be discouered who in the meane time slept vppon the Ice wearied with long trauell and troublesome way The taking of Niort The execution being followed in conuenient time Messieurs de Ranques Valiers Gentil hauing founded the ditches caused their lathers to be broght other instruments Wherein valour consisteth neare vnto the gate which they ment to assayle I would desire such as shall read this poynt to consider and note that notable enterprises are not executed without good order and discretion and that the honour of armes consisteth not in strength wherein many beasts haue great aduantage ouer vs nor in that kinde of furious assault which is more naturall to beastes then men neither yet in the hearts of the Actors which go where blinde conductions leadeth them but in the good order and pollicie established by the Leaders The approaching of those that bare the lathers was not so secretly done but that the Sentinel heard some noyse and presently cried Quivala Whereat if the assaylant had either beene fearefull or troubled the enterprise had bin discouered and so haue lost their labours But they stayed and stood so quietly that the Sentinell himselfe answered to the Corporall and saide I heard a noyse but I perceiue it is nothing and vppon that the lathers beeing artificially made to ioyne togither were raised against the walles about sixe and thirtie or fortie foote high Scaling Lathers set vp Galeati lepores Liuius 28. By this escalado the Sentinell was surprised and throwne ouer the wall and then the Court of guard wherein they found but seuen or eight poore artificers for that commonly within Townes the rich do watch by the eyes of the poore that saued themselues because they should make no noyse And although it had been determined to let as many of their men mount vp by lathers as possibly they might it chanced neuerthelesse that one of the small number that had entered perceiuing himselfe in some perill cried vnto the engenier and thought to spoyle all their enterprise for that crie made an alarme among all the Inhabitants and serued to the engeniers for a watch-word to play with their Ensignes being before the Rauelin which made an ouerture of the gate and at that instant the Engin wrought against the bridge of the Towne which brake but two plankes of the bridge and so the gate opened in two parts the entrie of the bridge was very straight where one man alone could hardly get in and yet hee must descend by one of the lathers into the ditch and then with the same lather go vp to the entrie of the bridge two men well armed had beene sufficient to haue kept it against them all In the end by meanes of that entrie and by their escalado the first that entered were Messieures de S. Gelais de Rambures and de Parabieries who with their companies met hard by the Towne-house where they beganne to crie Viue Nauarre and there among the people being in feare surprised and abashed they found so small resistance that in lesse then three or foure houres the assaylants entered vanquished became Maisters of the towne being put to the spoyle and yet without murther violence or iniurie done vnto the Cleargie that were not once touched the king of Mauarres intent beeing not to constraine them in their religion Hee receiued the newes of this surprise at S. Iohn d'Angely whereas then he remained the gouernment whereof he committed vnto Monsieur de S. Gelais Monsieur de Parabieres commaunded in the Castle wherein hee found fiue peeces for batterie and two long coluerins
which hee that was Captaine thereof had caused to bee made therewith as hee said to salute the king of Nauarre when hee should approach the walles of Niort The siege of Ganache In the meane time Monsieur de Neuers besieged la Ganache a very strong Towne lying in the marches of Poitou and Brittaine with sixe battering peeces foure double and two demy coluerins after hee had summoned Monsieur du Plessis by a Herault to yeelde the Towne vnto him The batterie beganne vppon New-yeares day and within foure dayes after the breach was reasonable great to giue the assault which was done with great fury and aunswered with the like courage whereby the assaylants left at the least fiftie of their mē dead within the ditches the assieged loosing at the same time two good Captaines and certaine souldiers The next day Monsieur de Paluau sent a drumme to Monsieur de Plessis to aduise him to growe to some good composition saying that hee had obtained sufficient honour by defending so weake a place that his wilfulnesse hindered the king of Nauarres affaires and that the Duke de Neuers had fully resolued not to leaue the siege before hee brought the Towne vnder subiection wherevpon hee ingaged his honour Monsieur de Plessis resolued vppon a conference hoping by that means to certifie the king of Nauarre of his affaires the effect of the cōference was to yeelde the Towne and to issue armed their goods saued Meane time the king of Nauarre issued out of Niort minding to relieue the Towne but a sicknesse proceeding from a great chaffing of his body which hee did lighting of his horse to heate himselfe beeing extreame colde seized vppon him which stayed him in a little village called Saint Pere where he was troubled with so fearce and cruell fittes of a feuer that hauing been let blood and all remedies vsed that possible might bee found it was thought hee would haue died and the report of his death was brought vnto the Court. But God who in so troublesome and confused a time ment to vse the seruice of so great a Prince whom hee had saued from so many perilles to make him the woonder vnto kings and the king of woonders The king fell sicke the 9. of Ianuary stayed the arest of death which the Phisitions had pronounced against him restoring him vnto a liuely and good health and of a beholder made him enter vpon the Theator not as one that vpon a suddaine by accident feare foresights nor hopes should represent a king in a commodie but to fulfill the true and lawfull office of a king After hee was recouered perceiuing that Messieurs de Chastillon de la Roche Foucaut de la Trimouille and Plassac could do nothing touching the relieuing of Ganache and that the Duke de Neuers with his armie made towards Blois hee tooke the places bordering vpon Niort The iudgement of the Huguenot touching the death of the Duke of Guise The Huguenots in their writings published at that time acknowledged not that action of the 13. of December as a clap of thunder that maketh more noyse then it doth hurt nor as a disgrace of fortune wherevnto the greatest personages are most subiect but as a worke of God and as one of the most notable workes that he had wrought for them thereby beginning to worke their reuenge for the massacre of Saint Bartholomewes day and to relieue them out of the miserable estate wherein they liued The Catholicques that neuer separated themselues from the auncient fidelitie of France nor from the seruice of the king cōsidered not so much vppon that which had passed at Blois as vppon the cause thereof they admired the kings long patience that rather suffered those Princes to doo what pleased them for the space of certaine yeares then once to punish them for a first second and third fault and that in the end this long patience changed into a iust furie These Princes made leagues both within and without the Realme without his Maiesties consent or knowledge they seized vpon townes and strong places in the land euery man forsooke the king to follow them they would haue the king to yeeld them account of all that hee had spent and done since his aduancement to the Crowne they had dispearsed iniurious and slaunderous bookes throughout the Realme and by them made the name of the king to become odious besides the disputation by them made touching the right and title vnto the king of France as if the king and all his Predecessors had enioyned and holden the kingdome wrongfully from the house of Lorraine at this day liuing And to conclude they were at the poynt to kill the King if they had not been preuented As then one reioyced at the death of the Duke of Guise esteeming it for a worke of God all the League to the contrary made great sorrow Two daies after the execution the sixteenth displayed their olde colours and cried out murther fire and vengeance they presently made a collection of monies to maintaine warres the poorest artificer among them was content to impart at least sixe Crownes some hauing no mony that they might not bee found without affection to that commotion solde and pawnde their goods to bee contributaries vnto it golde ranne like a riuer along the streetes they found hidden treasures and it seemed that France had nourished theeues to make an almasse of treasures for those inraged people Parris became the infamous Theater of rebellion wherein the sixteenth like furies issuing out of hell shewed the fier and flame wherewith they inclosed and murthered the poore countrie of France Vnder those mad dogges and stinking impostumes of the Cōmon-wealth was practised the most filthie and straungest rising that euer troubled the estate of any Towne To please the sixteenth they must displease God their king their own cōscience He was but hardly thought on that had not halfe a dozen of great outrages wherewith to detest that execution and an elegie for the memorie of the Duke of Guise and all with the most sad sorrowfull countenance that might be deuised withall powring out some notorious and blasphemous oathes the better to counterfet a disliking Hee that could not recite the memorable actions of the Duke of Guise eleuate him to heauen with open mouth speake euill of the King detest his actions abhorre his life and account the execution done at Blois as most cruell barbarous and in humane was neither accounted an honest man good Catholicque well affected nor yet zealous There was no foolish Poet nor Ballet-singer within Parris that deuised not one couple of songs touching this action nor any Preacher that found not one place in his sermon wherein to vtter a multitude of iniuries against the king There was no Printer that set not his Presse on work with discourses made touching his death but aboue all there was great disorder libertie permitted in Preachers that who not onely cast foorth
a million of iniuries and vilanies against the king but in stead of preaching the Gospell they kindled a reuolt sedition within the hearts of the people that neuer came from hearing them but their heades were set on fire and their handes prepared to seize vppon those poore Pollititians that were set before their eyes All this is drawne out of the discourses that were published at that time in Parris or from the report made of such sermons One reproached the forgetting of the seruices done by Claude Duke of Guise vnto King Francis that was found almost slaine among the dead at the battell of Marignan against the Switzers of Francis de Lorraine to the Kings Henry Francis the second who after so many notable exployts was slaine during the siege of Orleans of Henry de Lorraine to Charles the ninth and Henry the third at Iarnac Sens Poitiers Moncontour Auneau and Vimory and slaine at Blois An other made his Auditorie weepe by shewing the manner of this execution The third blasphemed against heauen speaking against the prouidence of God and the maner he vsed in his iudgements touching the death of those two Princes The fourth said that the Duke of Guise for a terrestriall and mortall had obtained a celestiall and perpetuall Crowne in heauen and by his death had opened the passage vnto his successors by that meanes to possesse the thing which hee with so great reason and iustice had pursued The fift taking the simple people to witnesse for the remembrance of things past cried out in open Pulpit Who knoweth not and that most euidently as it were at his fingers endes that the Prince of France and the brauest knight that euer set foote in stirrope lyeth now vpon the ground Was it not hee that by his onely presence defended Parris the most puissant Cittie in the world from an vniuersall spoyle and destrustion Was it not this Prince that tooke the naked sworde out of the souldiers hands that helde it readie at the breasts of the poore Cittizens of this towne Was it not that valiant Leader and Generall of armies who so many times and so happily beate downe and cut in peeces the enemies of our God who for reward and recompence of all his good and valiant seruices is now stabbed to death They added that France was sicke and that it could not be healed of her sicknesse if it had not a drinke of French blood administred vnto it The sixt the better to kindle and increase the fires of commotions openly cried out to armes and made the word of God a trumpet of sedition saying Bee of good courage my maisters you must slumber no more the God of battels is on your side hee stretceth forth his armes vnto you you know not your owne forces Parris knoweth not what it is woorth it hath sufficient treasure to warre against foure Kings Take courage turne backe the weapon that is readie to strike you a good warre will procure a peace without this warre peace will be your ouerthrow and destruction For what hath Christ to do with Belial this warre will bee your libertie and freedome which if you neglect God that reuengeth the iniurie done vnto his seruaunts will make you pay the interests of your so cowardly slacknesse So that sufficient perswasions were vsed to stirre vppe and mooue the most colde and fearefull minde and to cause the veriest coward to arme himselfe Such was the end of the Duke of Guise a Prince without all doubt of valour and courage the League called him her Caezar and made goodly comparisons betweene them For my part take away the name of Christian and I cannot finde so good a comparison betweene Camille and The mistocles Read a booke imprinted at Zurich vnder this title Carolus Magnus rediuinus Numa Licurgus Scipio and Epaminondas Marcellus and Pelopidas Pompey and Agesilaus Silla and Lysander Charles the great Henry the fourth at this present raigning the wonder of kings and the king of woonders as there is betweene the liues of Iulius Caezar and Henry de Lorraine the one being cause of the ouerthrow and ruine of his Common-wealth the other of all the miseries in France A comparisō between Casar and the duke of Guise Abanco Martio sunt Martii reges quo nomine fuit mater à Venere Iulis cuius gentis familia est nostrae Caezar alleadged himselfe to be issued on his mother side from the Kings of Alba and that his father had his originall from the Gods the race of Iules beeing descended from Venus and therefore hee caused a Temple to bee erected Veneri Genetrici The Duke of Guise and all his familie affirmed themselues to bee issued from the king of Ierusalem and the Dukes of Lorraine by their father and from the king of France by Anne d'Est daughter to Renee of France daughter vnto King Lewis the twelfth Caezar was of a goodly and tall stature well limbed full faced and quicke attractiue eyes The Duke of Guise was one of the fairest Princes of the Court big high of proportion an amiable face so quicke of eye that therby he pearced into all places Plut in the notable saying of auncient Kings Princes and Captains to know and chuse out his seruants farthest distant from him and in the greatest prease Caezar increased in ambition as wel as in yeares in greatnesse of courage as well as in bodie And as willingly a generous nature in good time discouereth it selfe beeing but young fell into the hands of Pyrates that asked him 20. tallents for his ransome but hee smiled at them because they knew not how much their prize was woorth and gaue them fiftie and beeing kept and watched carefully by them he sent commandement vnto them to be quiet and not to make any noyse that he might take his rest The Duke of Guise as young and Eagle as hee was assayed by all means to take his flight farther then any of his time very haughtie dissembling and aduised hee could not submitte himselfe to those from whom hee ought to haue expected his aduācement he differed in nothing from a kings childe of France with whom he had bin nourished brought vp shewing most euidently that his nature was to command not to obey to go before and not to follow after in his first action hee so much disposed the thoughts of the Frenchmen that they beleeued such parts to bee in him as were most fit and proper to cause a great change and alteraion in the Realme where hee should liue His first exployts in Nauarre Caezar began very young to beare armes and yet not so soone as Alexander and reading his actions beganne to weep when he perceiued that at his age Alexander had alreadie conquered Darius that as then he had done nothing The Duke of Guise in the spring time of his yeares was in the wars of Hungary against the Turke defended Sens and Poctiers fought valiantly
the Switzers armie ranged in battell and would needs passe through all the squadrons with so great demonstration of contentment ioy and entertainment to the heads as that all of them likewise made manifest vnto him the great affection they had to do him seruice Hauing all his forces togither which made a bodie of 45000. men he marched presently towards Parris and with shot of cannon made himselfe Maister of S. Clouis bridge Attempts by the heads of the League against the kings life The Duke de Maine other heads of the league with their most confident friends to the number of 46. within Parris beganne to renue their concels and seeing the king so neare them either to vrge them to battell or else straightly to inclose them and constrained the people to acknowledge him iudged by that in this progression of the kings affaires their own went to ruine and that there was no other means left to stād out being proclaimed guiltie of high treason against their chiefest head then by executing some notable villanie in procuring the death of the King their Maister Benefactor their Prince and soueraigne Lord. Some certaine weekes before a young Iacobine Monke called Fryer Iaques Clement borne as men report in a village called Sorbonne neare Seins a man drowned in all wickednesse hauing passed through the handes of certaine confessors and conferred with some Iesuites others was for a kind of dexteritie obserued in him found meete to strike so great a stroke The murther entended of long time He was vrged and put forward therein and in the end the Duke de Mayene the sister of Montpensieur and others had conference with him in diuers places they requested him to perseuer in this good determinatiō which they knew to rise in him by extraordinarie inspiratiōs to performe so renowmed a feruice to the holy vnion the Catholicque Church and his countrie They promised him Abbotships Bishoppricks whatsoeuer he would desire He remained for certain daies one whiles with the Duches Montp Who amōgst the Parisiās was termed the holy widow other whiles with his Prior sometimes with the Iesuites This Monke drunk in his own furie with so many aluremēts entertainmēts promises protestations of felicitie tēporal eternal resolued with himselfe and promised to kill the king The people who thought nothing nor knew not of their cruel practises talked of yeelding themselues had greatly rebated their spleene and collor Surce Duke de Maine and those of this complot caused the most zealous Sorbonnists Iesuites to preach that they should yet haue patience for seuen or eight daies they should perceiue some wonderfull matter come to passe that should make well with the vnion The Preachers of Roan Orleans and Amiens preached the like at the same time and in semblable termes The Moonke hauing taken order for his complot departed from Paris went towards S. Clou. So soone as hee was departed the Duke de Maine caused more then two hundreth of the principallest Cittizens and other rich men whom he knew to haue friends and credite with the kings partie to be taken prisoners for a gage to the end to saue his Moonke if after hee had attempted or executed the fact he were stayed or arrested The Monke being presented to speak to the king the first day of August saying that he had letters from the President of Harlay and credence on his part the king caused him to be called into his chamber where there was no other but the L. of Bellegarde chiefe Gentleman of the same and the Procuror general whom he procured to retire apart more priuately to giue eare vnto him which addressed himself as it seemed with a countenance very simple demure It is affirmed that in the selfe same chamber the Councels of the massacres in the month of August the year 1572. were surprised wherin the king that then was D. of Aniou was one of the chiefest The Moonk perceiuing himself alone opportunitie put into his hād cōfirming his countenāce more more drew out of one of sleeues a paper which he presented to the K. out of the other a knife with which violētly he sheathed a thrust within the kings smal ribs he being attentiue to read who perceiuing himself woūded plucked the knife out of the wound wherwith he strooke the Monke aboue the eie thervpō some Gentlemē came rūning in who moued with the indignitie of so execrable a fact could not contain but killed the murtherer with their swords who went to the place appointed for him was cannonized adored by the league but on the contrarie detested of those the cleaued to the dignitie royal partie of the religion In the annagratisme of his name Frier Iaques Clemēt were found these words in so many letters C'est l'enfer qui m'acreè which importeth It is hel the created or brought me forth For so it seemed that after this fact the furies themselues were come out of hel to ouerwhelme topsie turuie al France The King being caried to his bed the Phisitians and Surgions applied vnto him his first dressing and iudged that the wound was not mortal by means wherof the same day he procured writing and aduise to bee giuen of this attempt as also of the hope of his healing and recouerie as well to the Gouernours of Prouinces as to Princes straungers his friends and allies But the soueraigne King hauing otherwise disposed of the life of this Prince took him out of the world about 3. of the clock in the morning the day following A litle before his departure hee spoke with a moderate and confirmed mind named the King of Nauarre his good brother lawful successor to the Crowne exhorted his good subiects to obey him to remaine vnited and to referre the difference of religion to the conuocation of the Estates Obseruations vpon the life of king Hienry the third generall of the Realme who would thinke vpon conuenient remedies for the same to haue a care of religion and pietie and to pray to God for him vpon these words he gaue vp his ghost Touching the insolencies of the league within Parris and elsewhere after the kings death an other Historie shal declare the same for our intention is not to proceed any further in these collections In this Prince failed the Kings of the race of Valois which had raigned in France from the yeare 1515. to the yeare 1589. vnder their dominions almost all the wonders of former ages had been renued This last king was little bewailed of his subiects by reason of many faults he committed in his gouernment and administration The occasion of them without touching in any sort either his conscience or affaires of instice and pollicie was that in his polliticke gouernment hee could neuer well discerne except too late his friends from his enemies and the desire he had to lead his life in pleasure made him let slippe infinite exellent opportunities
of prouiding for the good of France and other countries His securitie imboldened his enemies both neare and farre of within and without the Realme to innouate much and in that he would not lay to his hand when he ought to haue done he at last found the gate shut against him perceiued himselfe driuen out of his own house and those whom many waies he had too much supported established in his place who gaue him right downe blowes vpon his head whereof he should haue bin warie in time Men talke diuersly touching his departure some iudging that he left the world too soone in respect of France her good others deeming the contrarie Howsoeuer it was his decease was to the whole Realme a beginning of particular calamities aboue all the rest as the Historie of king Henry the fourth of the race of Bourbon will giue testimonie Heere endeth the troubles that happened in the raigne of Henry the third This is to giue the Reader to vnderstand that there is certaine Titles gone Henry the fourth that should haue bin Henry the third A BRIEFE RECITALL OF THE MOST MEMORABLE THINGS which came to passe in Fraunce vnder the Raigne of Henry the fourth since his first comming to the Crowne vntill the middle of the yeare 1598. The Frenchmens disposition after the death of Henry the 3. ALthough there were great sorrow greefe and lamentation made in the royall armie for the death of king Henry the third as much signe of ioy and gladnesse was there seene on the other side among the leaguers throughout al the Citie of Paris for the same in singing of songs and making mocking times therevpon The Duke de Maine with his Court and many others which since the execution of Blois wore black scarfes in signe of sorrow did heerevpon cast them aside and wore in stead of them scarfes of hopeful greene Then was there great feasting masking and other sportfull games made among them wherein and whereby the murthered king was cursed and banned in most horrible sort At that time the image and portrature of the traiterous Moonke which kild the king was by the commaundement of the chiefe of the league artificially framed in Brasse and other paintings wherewith they garnished both their houses Churches Then was he cannonized and among the supersticious prayed vnto as a new made Martyr whom they called by the name of Saint Iaques Clement All such as were knowne to bee of any kin vnto him were greatly inriched with almes gifts and publicke contributions Councels of the league The Duke de Maine which as yet durst not name himselfe king caused that title by proclamation to bee giuen throughout all Paris to the Cardinall of Bourbon beeing then prisoner stamping mony and gold as the coyne of king Charles the tenth The Duke disguising his vsurpation by his new and rediculous title of Lieftenant generall to the Estate and Crowne of France and perceiuing that the declarations made by the lawfull king did shake in the beginning of his proceedings a great part of the league published and sent abroad an Edict dated the first day of August in his owne name and the generall Councell of the holy vnion of Catholicques established at Parris who stayed there for the assembling of the estates of the kingdome to revnite as he said all Christian Frenchmen in the defence and conseruation of the Apostolicque Romane and Catholicque Church for the holding vp of the royall estate expecting the libertie and presence of king Charles the tenth Orders giuen to the king for the affairs of the armie King Henry the fourth which soone after the death of his predecessor had signified to the Princes and Lords in the armie his full intent vnderstāding that many of the Nobles made diuers bad attempts caused the principall of them to bee assembled before whom hee called vnto mind the recommendations of the oathes which the deceased king had caused him to make before them all for the tranquillitie of the Realme after his hurt perceiuing himselfe to drawe toward his end The first and chiefest poynt whereof was to maintaine the Frenchmen in the libertie exercise of the two religions that is to say the Romaine and the reformed Churches vntill such time as by a good and generall Councell it were otherwise determined These promises by oath he renued vnto them againe which appeased the controuersies And because hee might not securely stay at Paris by reason of this suddaine change and the sicknesses which afflicted the royall armie the king by aduise went into Normandie as well to receiue the succours which came from England as also for the fortifying of certaine places and passages which was fit for his purpose The league remooued on the other side and then the Earle of Randan one of the chiefest of them had surprised in Auuergne the Cittie d'Issoire about the tenth of August The Parliament of Bourdeaux published a decree the 19. of the same moneth whereby all those of their side were inioyned to keepe inuiolably the Edicts made by the holy vnion concerning the Apostolicque Catholicque and Romaine Church and all the declarations by them made Three daies after that at Thoulouse tearing the picture of the deceased K. bodie in peeces they ordained by an act made by the generall consent of the leaguers that euery yeare vpon the first day of August they should in making processions and publicke prayers acknowledge vnto God the great benefits which as vppon that day they receiued by the fearefull death of Henry the third whereby the happie deliuerance of Parris ensued with many other distressed Cities in the Realme forbidding al persons to acknowledge Henry of Bourbon king of Nauarre to be king of France whom that Court thoght a most vnfit man to succeed in the same kingdome because said the edict of the notorious and manifest crimes expressed against him in that bull of excommunication which was giuen out by Pope Sixtus the fift His genealogie The enuie of which partiall Parliament hath constrained mee once againe to set vnto your sight in briefe sort the true genealogie of King Henry the fourth Lewis the ninth surnamed the Saint beeing the 44. king of France came to the Crowne in the yeare 1227. and raigned till the yeare 1270. he had foure sonnes two of the which namely Peter and Robert died without issue and before their father The other twaine that suruiued was Philip and Robert the second of that name Philip surnamed the Hardie third of that name successiuely left these following from the father to the sonne from brother to brother and the nearest of blood to the nearest of blood Philip the fourth called the Faire Lewis the tenth surnamed Hutin Philip the fift surnamed the Longe Charles the fourth termed the faire Philip de Valois Iohn Charles the fift surnamed the wise Charles the sixth called the welbeloued Charles the seuenth Lewis the eleuenth Charles the eight all descending from Saint Lewis
neare vnto Mant the which soone after the Leaguers were departed thence yeelded themselues to the king as also the Towne of Vernon and other Cittie To bee brief in this battel of Yuri al the footmen of the leaguers were ouerthrown Of the horsemen there were about fifteen hundreth slaine and drowned and about foure hundreth taken prisoners Among the dead there was knowne to be slaine the Earle of Egmont who was Colonell of the troupes sent by the Duke of Parma one of the Dukes of Brunswic Chastegneray beside those whose names could not bee found VVee will make no mention heere of those prisoners which afterward abused the kings benignitie and gracious fauours who might iustly haue put them all to death Who after their releasment tooke part against him More then twentie Cornets of horsemen was at that time wonne by the King among the which was the white Cornet the chiefe standard belonging to the Spanish Generall and to the Flemmings the Cornets of the Rutters and more then threescore ensignes of footemen beside the foure and twentie Ensignes of the Switzers which were yeelded presently after the slaughter The king lost the Lords of Clermont d'Antragues Captaine of his Guards the Lord Schomberg de Bongaulnay de Crenay Fesquieres and 15. or 20. other Gentlemen a fewe souldiers and fewe hurt The Duke de Maine and other Captaines of the League beeing frustrate of their hope and seeing their armie thus spoyled betooke themselues to their ordinarie shifts which was to feede the Parisians with lies and fables publishing many bookes wherein it was shewen that at the first assault giuen at Dreux the Inhabitants had slaine more then fiue hundreth men of the kings armie greeuously hurt a great number more at what time also the Marshal of Biron was slaine how in an other incounter near vnto Poissy the league had gotten a great victorie In which battell they had a long fight and almost equall losse And that if the king were not alreadie dead hee was very neare vnto it The people beeing not satified with such false quoyne and hearing euery day more then other contrarie reports by certaine men that had escaped from the said bloodie fight on the leaguers side murmured greatly thereat as people that desired peace The seditious preachers stopt the report of the Leaguers losse by all the meanes they might And whilest the Duke de Maine and others after certaine meetings at Saint Dennis because that the pauement of Paris was too hot for them tooke his way toward the Duke of Parma to obtaine succour from him The Parliament of Roane that according to their olde custome did bend themselues against their king and gracious soueraigne did execute and put to death the seuenth of Aprill certaine prisoners which were seruants to the king And three daies after declared by an Edict all those to bee traitors which were of the king of Nauarres campe as they called him that would not linke themselues to king Charles the tenth vnderstanding by that name the Cardinall of Bourbon to ioyne themselues to the league and beare weapons in the Duke de Maines armie vsing many threatnings in written papers which they set vp at the corners of euerie lane and afterward put them in print And whilest the leaguers applyed these businesses the king hoping by gentlenesse to win the Parisians to obedience continued stil at Mant without any further hot following his victorie But the trumpets of sedition imputing this mildnesse to the kings want of courage perswaded with the people that he whom they called their sworn and irreconcileably enemie shuld be shortly brought to such a hard exegent that he would bee glad either to graunt them their owne request or else that they should see him vtterly ouerthrowne Breefly their great bragges and insolencies constrained the King to draw toward Paris in this month of Aprill In fewe daies after Corbeil vpon Seine was yeelded vnto him the towne of Lagni vpon Marne and Melun Then hee assailed Sens in Bourgongne where hee did nothing onely through their fault of whom he thought to haue had better seruice The Parisians had such confidence in the promises of the leaguers that they assured themselves the king was not able to hold out many weekes against their forces insomuch that they respected not the strengthening of their Cittie to repell the batterie of any foe or the strength of any siege In time of peace that great and goodly Cittie was daily maintained and serued with fresh prouision as well one weeke as an other by the infinite commodities that was brought thervnto both far and neare by the help of the riuers of Seine Marne and Oise Diuers particular persons wisely foreseeing a storme made prouision before hand for their families But the number of the Inhabitants in that little world was so mightie great that for one prudent housekeeper there was found an hundreth that neuer thought to prouide against the time to come or sought to shun a mischiefe before it fell vppon their pates whereof followed the strange and wofull desolations which I will briefly present heere vnto you The fiue and twentieth day of Aprill the king returning toward Paris tooke and seized vpon the bridge Charenton and diuers other places thereabout for the commoditie of this armie which consisted of twelue thousand foote or thereabout three thousand horses The Parisians were six times as many in respect of the number of those that carried armes who were vnder the commaund of the Duke of Nemours in the absence of the Lieftenant generall his brother beeing assisted by the Cheualier d'Aumale and certaine other Captaines of the league In the beginning of this siege the affaires were horribly tossed They had in the Cittie certaine Preachers The siege of Parris and among many more were these following Boucher Pilletier Guincestre Feuerdant Guarin Christin little Fueillant and others in diuers Churches which mooued the people to indure all the miseries that might bee imagined rather then to submit themselues to an hereticall Prince as they called him These Preachers beeing poysoned with Spanish golde and maintained by the chiefe Ladies of the league did so inuenome the people with subtill perswasions against their lawfull king and soueraigne Lord that they resolued to perish miserably in the siege propounding on the other side questions to the facultie of Sorbonne that is to say if it come so to passe that the Cardinall of Bourbon should die being prisoner whom they called king Charles the tenth whether then they might receiue Henry of Bourbon for their king or no though hee would reconcile himselfe to the Pope Also whether they that should seeke to make peace with the said Henry or that permitted the same might not giue cause to bee held and suspected or counted a fauourer of heresies if it were according to the law of God if they might faile therein without mortall sinne and paine of damnation Contrariwise if it were a thing meritorious to
of all the Catholicques of the Realme This was an invectiue against the King couered vnder colour of religion and a summoning of all those which profest the Romaine religion to withdraw themselues from the obedience of their lawfull and soueraigne Prince and a conuocating of his partakers into the Cittie of Paris on the seuenteenth day of Ianuarie next insuing that they might determine togither without passion saide hee and without respect of any mans interest such remedie as they should in their consciences thinke requisite for the preseruation of the religion and the royall estate But while the Cardinall of Bourbon named by the League Charles the tenth was prisoner they vsed other speeches but after his death they not daring to deny but that the Crown appertained to king Henry the fourth vsed the colour of religion to blinde the simple And soone after by this meanes there arose other changes notwithstanding the king of Spaine gaue not ouer the prosecuting of his enterprises in France As for the warre of Sauoy and Piedemont wee will speake briefly about the ende of the yeare following Against this declaration made by the Duke de Maine The kings answere to the Duke de Maines declaration the king published an other wherein he discouered the deceits of his rebellious subiects namely of the chiefest sort also the fâ—lonie committed by the Duke de Maine in assembling the estates of his kingdome wherin he manifestly vsurped his royal authoritie confuting his excuses and vaine coulour to the same maintaining his right in claiming the Crowne And for the state of religion hee declared that if without the conuocating of a Councell there might bee found far better and easier meanes to come vnto that instruction or admonition which they pretended to giue him to withdraw him from the exercise of his religion to that of the Romaines hee was so farre from reiecting such a meanes that to the contrarie hee did desire and imbrace it with all his heart As wee suppose said hee that wee haue sufficiently witnessed by the permission which wee haue graunted to the Princes Officers of the Crowne and other Catholicque Lords which do follow vs to send their Deputies to the Pope for the more easie and speedie performance of the said instruction or admonition Beside the K. doth accuse the leaguers that they had hindered the said instruction or admonition Hee doth largely discourse of the dutie of true Frenchmen promiseth to receiue the said instruction and for answere to the chiefe poynt of his aduersaries declaration he doth on the other side declare that this pretended assemblie of Parris is enterprised against the lawes the good and publicke quiet of the Realme and that all which shall bee therein concluded is meere abuse and of no effect or force Hee likewise pronounceth the Duke de Maine and all that should therein assist him guiltie of treason in the highest degree Hee doth furthermore offer pardon to the Citties Communalties and persons which haue beene seduced by the Captaines of the League And hee doth exhort them to acknowledge their dutie A declaratimade by the kings Councel to the estates of the League The Princes and Catholicque Lords who were of the Kings Councell published the same time a declaration and sent it about the end of Ianuarie to the estates of the League By the same they required that Deputies might be assigned on both sides to determine togither of the most readiest means for the asswaging of the troubles and the preseruation of the Romaine Catholicque religion and the state The Duke de Maine and his adherents answered that they were readie to send their Deputies so that they on the Kings side would with a good conscience ioyne themselues to the Catholicke Romaine Church vnder which cloke of reconciliation they did carefully hide their furious actions and former rebellion The Popes Legat made on his part an exhortation to the Catholiques fraught with reproach against the King who was on euery side defamed and euill spoken off by his enemies All his discourse beeing imprinted tended all to this poynt to perswade all Frenchmen that the king beeing of long time cut off from the bodie of the Church had bin most iustly pronounced vncapable of the Crown Soone after they did disanull those acts of Parliament that were made at Tours and at Chaalons against the monitaries of Landriano and the assembly at Chartres which they called a conuenticle they sung their Maisters praises damned the Parliament of Chaalons which had condemned their bulles magnified the estates of the League which wholy reiected so obstinate an hereticque with full purpose neuer to bee subiect vnto him declaring that in deed the Pope had so commaunded it to be In this assembly of Parris appeared the Duke of Feria for the King of Spaine who also made an Oration exhortarie to elect a new King then presented he his Maisters letters tending to the same effect with promise to aide and succour the Leaguers by all meanes possible For this had hee great thankes giuen him in the name of all the rest by Cardinall Pelué Archbishop of Reimes who was a slaue to the house of Guise While the Spaniards and their Pentioners indeuoured with all their power to continue France in her miseries hoping by meanes of these estates of the League more and more to intangle the affaires of the Realme yea to throwe them headlong into such confusion that in the mean space they might haue leisure to set forward their purposes against the Lowe Countries England and France it selfe the king was solicited from diuers places by Councellors both neare about him and farre off openly to forsake the profession of the reformed religion and to imbrace from that time forward the Romaine ceremonies The summe of their solicitations was that to expulse the Spaniards to recouer Parris and the other of the leaguers townes he must be inforcst to take away from the chiefe of that side the onely colour of Papisme by meanes whereof they would continue their rebellions And while the king openly imbraced his accustomed religion those of the contrarie side an hundreth times in greater number might follow the house of Guise and other chiefe Leaguers who by meanes of the Spaniardes and the Pope might well finde means to maintaine and augment the discentions through all the corners and in the middest of his kingdome the which was well woorth a Masse and that it were not good to let it bee lost for a few ceremonies nor to bee subiect to so many censures and to bee couerted by euery bace person that would controll the kings pleasures and hinder his recreations after so many troubles And for as much that such a voyce was spredde abroad by the notable aduertisements of other Councellours Ciuill and Ecclesiasticall it seemed to them that the king would incline therevnto and the Deputies of the Princes and Lords of his Councell communicating with those of the League to preuent the election
indeuours and by practises at Rome to ouerthrow indomage and make the D. of Neuers voyage for the king vnprofitable whom hee had sent to acknowledge his dutie to the Pope As for the Preachers belonging to the League publicke and priuately before and after the truce their discourses at Paris and other places were that the Masse which they sung before the king was but a deceit that it was impossible the King should bee conuerted that the Pope could not recatholize him that it was lawfull for the people to rise against him and his officers that it appertained to the Sorbonnists to iudge whether the Pope oght to receiue him as king And if peraduenture hee should do it neuerthelesse hee might bee held for an hereticque and one excommunicate that it was lawfull for any particular man to kill him that should say hee was revnited to the Catholicque Romaine Church These and such other propositions were made and spredde both within Paris and other places In regard of the declarations made by these estates of the League to keepe the fauour of their partakers to giue a secret touch to the kings Councellors as if they were not right Catholickes and to bring the Realme into far greater trouble then before they in their assembly the eighteenth day of August made a declaration containing these words among many others With one consent and aduise wee haue decreed established and or dained and by this present doo decree establish and ordaine that the holy and sacred generall Councell of Trent shall bee receiued published and obserued purely and simply in all places and iurisdictions of this Realme as at this present in the generall bodie of the estates wee do receiue and publish it Their oath Moreouer the same estates deuised the forme of an oath in these termes Wee promise and sweare to continue vnited togither for the defence and preseruation of the Catholicque Apostolicque and Romaine religion and to bring if it be possible this kingdome so long time afflicted to his auncient dignitie and renowme and neuer to consent for any perill or cause whatsoeuer shall come that any thing shall bee done for the aduancement of heresie or to the preiudice of our religion for defence whereof wee promise to hee obedient to the sacred decrees ordinances of our holy father and the sacred sea of Rome without euer falling away from the same Their diuision vpon the principall point But they were not vnited togither in respect of the principall poynt which was to acknowledge one king The Parisians and other townes that held for the League desired that the king of Spaines daughter might bee married to the Duke of Guise and so beeing ioyned by matrimonie they might be crowned King and Queene of France The Duke de Maine who was solicited to aduance the house of the Popes Legate made shewe to agree to so great an honour done to his Nephew but hauing accorded vpon the generall for his particular profit hee demaunded things impossible or at least so difficult that it might bee well perceiued that not esteeming the Popes or King Philips will nor the consent of the estates and chiefe of the League hee said as the Cardinall did in the Conclaue I chose myselfe Impossible it was that euer hee should come to aduance his Nephewe to the Crowne Peter Barriere attēpted to kill the king and is executed for the same These contentions produced the truce aboue mentioned which the Duke of Maine and his Councellours forged to breake a blowe with the partakers of Spaine and to draw new treasures into their purses This wrought the confusion of France on the one side on the other the Prelates and Sorbonnists which with the watch-word receiued from Rome had drawn the king to the Masse imagined in this sort to fish for a golden world But the leaguers thought to bring in new troubles and pernicious practises for in middest of these businesses the sixe and twentieth day of August Peter Barriere Alias Bar borne at Orleans was committed prisoner at Meleun where hee finally confessed that hee was seduced by a Capucin Fryer at Lyons by the Curat and Vicar of a certaine Parish in Paris and also by a Iesuite closely to follow the king and to murther him with a two edged knife the which was found about him He had beene intised to this parriside and was resolued to doo it chiefly about two months before and further confessed that two Priests by him nominated were also come from Lyons for the verie same intent and that he set himselfe the forwardest for the execution thereof to the ende hee might get the greatest honour thereby Hee was drawne through the streetes of Meleun where then the king was they cut off his right hand holding the murthering knife therein and after burned the same After this was done they broke his armes legges and thigh bones and in that sort laide him vppon a wheele where hee languished certaine houres till hee died then was his bodie consumed to ashes and throwne into the riuer his compleces or confederates so disguised themselues that they could not bee found or taken The Duke of Nemours Tragedie At this time was the Duke of Nemours within Lyon from whence hee would not stirre to go to the estates of the league although the Pope had giuen him commaundement the other chiefe Captaines thought it meete and his friend and seruants desired him to go hee vouchsafed not so much as to send vnto them knowing that the leaguers cast their eies altogither vpō the Duke of Guise and that the Duke de Maine his brother by the mothers side crost all his purposes and would worke all meanes for his death A certaine bolde Eryer of Lyon perceiuing well that this yong Prince pretented to bring some new matter to passe within the league whereby at least hee might haue some great hand in the gouernment by the aduice of two or three Councellours who were of his complecies hee compassed Lyon with many fortresses which held on his side at Toissai Vienne Montbrison Chastillon de Dombes Belleuille Tisi Charlieu and other places Quirieu forsaking him hee bought it with a great sum of mony at the hands of the Lord of Saint Iulian which was Gouernour thereof This done Lyon was inclosed as well by water as by land The Lyonnois did not withstand neither his prodigallities nor his Councellours nor his men of warre which forraged the plaine countrie receiuing the guerdon of their reuolt from the kings obedience In the end acknowledging themselues they rose vp against the Duke of Nemours assisted by the counsell and presence of their Archbishop sent by the Duke de Maine and the eighteenth of September they tooke holde of Nemours who was seene three times at deaths doore committing him to close prison where hee continued certaine moneths and at last escaping by cunning meanes spoyled of his succours chased from his Fortresses hee went and died farre from France in
where it was openly proclaimed throughout the Prouinces The Guisarts not content with the troubles in France mooue warres in Scotland but to their owne confusion The religion multiplieth in France euen in the middle of their persecutions and next after God submit themselues vnder the protection of the Princes of the blood determining to oppose themselues against the house of Guise who by diuers subtilties receiue and award their blowes discouer the enterprise wrought against them cause the principall Nobilitie of the Realm to be assembled at Fontainbleau where the Admirall galleth them on all sides This assembly produced an aduise and consent of a Parliament to be holden in the end of that yeare The Princes are summoned to come vnto the Court and all subtile practises vsed to get them thither being arriued at Orleans where the Court was holden They were stayed as prisoners specially the Prince of Conde the house of Guise practising the totall ruine of the Princes and all others of the religion leaue no meanes vndeuised which by the sequell is well perceiued While these actions were in hand the king fell sicke in the end the Queen his mother got the Regencie with the ayde of the house of Guise and the king of Nauarre the Prince of Conde and those of the religion are relieued by the kings death CHARLES THE NINTH I Account the raigne of Charles the ninth to be the time of wonders in France his beginning was the assembly of a Parliament where nothing was done but onely in words Those of the religion openly increasing the house of Guise began to practise against the estate many edicts were made to pacifie the troubles The Queen-mother vseth practises that ouerthrew the lawes of the realme to satisfie those of the religion an assembly was holden at Poissy which ended in words and no resolutions and lastly with mutinies in Parris The Edict of Ianuarie was made whereby the Duke of Guise vndertooke to commit the massacre at Vassy inducing the king of Nauarre to consent with him hee seizeth both of Parris and the king which bred the first ciuill warres which on the one side containe infinit exployts of warres as battels incounters assiegings defenses and taking of places on the other side spoyles and horrible murthers of those of the religion in all the Prouinces of the Realme The troubles being ended by the death of the Duke of Guise slaine at the siege of Orleans the first Edict of pacification abolishing that of Ianuarie was established After the peace the Englishmen were driuen out of New-hauen the king is declared to bee of age to gouerne without a Protector and causeth diuers Edicts to be made He is solicited by the Spaniard to breake his Edict of pacification which is weakned in diuers poynts the beginning of the voyage of Bayonne diuers Citadels builded many Townes vnwalled those of the religion sacked and spoyled in many places leagues made against them Edicts reuoking those that had been granted vnto them The shamefull entrie of the Cardinall of Lorraine in Paris Councels holden at Bayonne the kings progresse throughout France A dissembling reconciliation made between the houses of Guise Chastillon the miserable state of France a notable processe at Paris between the Vniuersitie and the Iesuites Vnder pretence of a passage to bee granted to the Spaniards to passe into the low Countries preparation was made to ouerrun those of the religion which constrained the Prince of Conde and his associates to seeke to defend themselues whereof ensued the second eiuill warres set downe with the most notable accidents therein happened Negotiation of peace which the Prince is constrained to accept This peace presently after conceiued a third ciuill warres The Prince and the Admirall hauing hardly saued themselues in Guyenne followed by diuers others The Princes first exployts edicts against those of the religion many warlike exployts betweene the contrarie armies Warres began to be in greater force in the yeare 1569. then euer they were before The Prince was slaine after the battell of Bassac the Prince of Nauarre declared generall of the armie and the Prince of Conde assistant A puissant armie of Almaines vnder the conduction of the Duke de Deux Ponts commeth to ayde them the incounter of la Roche la Belle the warres of Bearne the siege of Poictiers and Chastelleraud the battell of Moncontour What both the armies did after that The siege of S. Iohn d'Angely ouerthrowne the armie victorious Diuers exployts of wars in Poictou Guyenne Xaintongne and Angoulmois a great voyage through the Prouinces after the battell of Moncontour continuance of warres which is ended by the third edict of pacification and about the end of the yeare the king married the Emperours daughter a voyage made vnto the Queene of Nauarre for the marriage of her son with the king of France his sister Councels among those of the religion the death of the Cardinall of Chastillon The marriage aforesaid agreed vpon warres were pretended against the Spaniard the secret of the Court discouered the Queene of Nauarre went to Parris where she died the Princes and the Admirall came thither Contracts and espousals of the king of Nauarre most horrible bloodie and cruell councels and massacres of the Admirall and thirtie thousand of the religion in Parris and in many other Townes all the circumstances precedent and following set downe at large Many deuises to destroy those that were resting of the religion who in Rochel Sancerre Languedoc and other places resolued to stand in a iust defence of their cause the assieging and yeelding of Sancerre A notable discourse of the siege of Rochel from the beginning vntill the peace granted The state of those of the religion in Quercy Languedoc and other Prouinces where they ouerthrew their enemies and presently after reduced the king to such a stay that he was forced to begin againe who fell sicke as his brother went into Poland A deuise not ouer good for those of the religion The fourth troubles beganne at the massacres and ceased for a time at the peace of Rochel and began the fift by the enterprises against Rochel and Languedoc The wonderfull practises of the Queene-mother to maintaine her actions and to serue her turne by her third son against those of the religion The estate of diuers prouinces specially of Normandie where Monsieur was taken prisoner Warres in Poictou against those of the religion The Prince of Conde goeth into Almaine The sicknesse and death of the king HENRY THE THIRD THe Regents dealings during the warres in Normandie The estate of Languedoc Viuarais and Dauphine Montgommery beheaded in Parris The Prince of Conde chosen generall by those of Languedoc Warre in Poictou The arriuall of the new king escaped out of Poland The beginning of his actions The siege of Lusignen Warres in Dauphine Practises against those of Languedoc The death of Charles Cardinall of Lorraine The memorable siege of Liuron Conquests in Languedoc and elsewhere Negotiation of
maintaine the ancient amitie that had long continued betweene the countries of France and Scotland Monsieur Pierre Strossie Coronell of certaine Italian companies Monsieur D'andelot Coronell of the French Infanterie the Rhingraue General of the Lansquenets accompanied Monsieur D'esse And while they with their Troupes kept the Englishmen from inuading Scotland by land Leon Strossi Prior of Capoue with his Gallies and certain French ships came close vnder the Castle of S. Andrew which he entred by force and taking all that hee found therein returned into France D'esse presently after draue the Englishmen out of a Fort by them erected hard by that Castle but before the fire waxed greater by meeting of Ambassadours on both sides the peace before spoken of and propounded at Ardies betweene the kings of England and France was made and concluded whereby that warre ceased The rest of this yeare passed ouer without any matter of importance done in France The king hauing taken such order in Guyenne touching the Impost of Salt and other customes that in fine it prooued the spring and beginning of those insupportable exactions that bred and produced the seditions of the yeare ensuing Ordinances for custome of Salt and other things Autome all the rest of the year was much troubled with showers of raigne whereof ensued great ouerflowings and invndations of waters foreshewings and prescriptions of the troubles that after ensued both within and without the Realme The house of Guise being insinuated into the kings good fauor by means of Diane de Poictiers Duches of Valentinois that wholly ruled him hee gaue the Arch-Bishoppricke Bishoppricke of Reims to Charles yonger brother to the Duke of Guise to whom not long before Pope Paul Farnese had sent the Cardinals Hat this was The Cardinal of Lorraine solicited the Pope to take part with the king of France that great and so much renowmed Cardinall of Lorraine that liued in such fame in the times of the Kings successors to Henry the second Charles of Burbon brother to Henry Duke of Vandosine and after King of Nauarre was also made Cardinall at the same time But the difference was great betweene these two Cardinals The Lorraine a man of great iudgement and one that seemed to be borne onely to stirre vp strife within the Realme was as then sent and imployed in Ambassage vnto the Pope to drawe and perswade him to fauour the King of Francis part and wholly to disswade him from the Emperour against whom as then he was much incensed because his Lieftenant in Italie had ceased vppon the towne of Plaisance after the murther of Pierre Louis the Popes sonne slaine by the conspiracie of his owne subiects the 10. of September 1547. The Emperour and the King sent vnto the Councell The Emperour sent his Ambassadours to the Councell as then holden in Bologne to protest against such as were assembled in that place thereby to induce them to returne againe vnto Trent The King likewise sent his Ambassadors thither to exhort thē to looke vnto thēselues and to prouide for their affaires These practises and deuises in time prooued the sparkles of the fire of vengeance and desire of reenterie into warres inclosed within the hearts and breasts of those two Princes specially of the King who partly prouoked by the opinion of his meanes and partly solicited by such as knowing his nature much inclined to the delights and pleasures of the Court and of a soft spirit little practised or brokē with matters of estate thought to fish in a troubled water as the common saying is not beeing able to distresse the peace made with the Emperor at Cresoy in the year of our Lord 1544. complayning against the animositie of the Emperour vsed towards France and among other examples to pricke him alleadging the death of Coronel Vogelsberg beheaded at Ausbourge at his returne from the warres of Scotland where he had serued the King While the King made preparation to ride on progresse throughout his Realme Gasper de Colligny sieur de Chastillon sent into Picardie The Fort of Chastillon caused a fort to be erected near vnto Bullen that as then was holden by the Englishmen which after annoyed them much The King beeing in Bourgongne made his entrie into most part of the Townes and hauing visited La Bresse Sauoye and Piedemont returned vnto Lyons where hee held a feast for the Knights of the order of S. Michaell Commotions in Guyenne by reason of exactions During his voyage into Sauoye and Piedemont the commons of Guyenne Saintonge and Angoulmois rose vp in armes because of the extortions vsed by those that had farmed the impost of salt and in short space assembled to the number of 40000. men wel armed besides those of the ylands and by common consent set vppon the farmers of Salt and although in the beginning the king of Nauarre had sought by all meanes to disswade them neuerthelesse they held firme and earnestly pursued their enterprise against those of the farmers vppon whom they might lay hands The commons of Gascoigne likewise rose vppe and followed the pernicious examples of the rest whereof ensued the massacring of many of the Kings officers in diuers places of the countrie who abusing their offices had beene the causes of that mutinie Fault of the Gouernour the Iurats of Bourdeaux The Maior and Iurates hauing charge within the Cittie of Bourdeaux the parliment of Guyenne and Monsieur de Monneins that therein commaunded as Lieftenant for the King in stead of remedying and taking order for those tumults defended it too long specially Monsieur de Monneins who not reproouing the insolencie of one of the principal leaders of those troupes named La Vergne made him become so bold and impudent that not long after he presumed to rayse and call the people togither by sound of bell besides this he committed an other fault which is that beeing fearefull and hauing withdrawne himselfe into the Castle of du Ha thereby as hee supposed to put the people in some doubt He sent out diuers Caliuers at seuerall times to represse their insolencie but it fell out contrary to his intent For that this issuing of the Souldiours set the people in such a rage that hauing found mutinous companions for the purpose as La Vergne l'Estonnac Maquanan and others presently they fought where the farmers and their partakers were put to flight and many gentlemens houses vnder pretence of searching for the exactors of Imposts whom they affirmed to bee hidden therein were robbed and spoyled Disorder in the capitall Towne of Guyenne The commons entred into the Towne where they rung a bell to assemble the people no man daring to passe through the streets vnlesse hee were armed and in company of the Nobles otherwise they were cruelly massacred and murthered by such as met them The Councellers of the Court of parliment were constrained to put off their gownes and in their dubblets and hose with
Saylers cappes to beare pikes and so to march with this mutinous companie that constrained two brethren called Messieurs de Saulx one a Captaine of the Towne the other of the Castle called Trompette to bee their Leaders and to assist them at the spoyling and robbing of diuers houses of the Cittizens their friendes whom they massacred before their eyes Tho sacking of the towne-house and massacring of the Gouernour The Towne-house wherein there laye great quantitie of armour was sacked and Monsieur de Monneins beeing so ill aduised to leaue the Castle of Du Ha where he was in safetie to go out to intreat perswade the people was cruelly murthered with diuers wounds both before and after his death a Locke-smith giuing him the first blowe and the Fryers that within 3. houres after in the night-time sought to take vp his bodie all filthie and moyled with durt and lying in the streets with a gentlemen called Monteluen were in danger of massacring because they buried them within that Temple But the principall Leaders of this mutinie longing to put water into their wine and such as had made their pray by spoyling houses Execution of iustice against the mutinous hauing withdrawne themselues some in one place some into another the parliament beeing strengthened and assisted by honest and peaceable Cittizens beganne to shewe his authoritie and caused some of the notablest companions amongst them to bee taken whom they executed namely La Vergne that was drawne in peeces by foure horses The Constable with all rigor punished those of Burdeaux The king beeing certified thereof wrote vnto the commons assuring them with all speed to take order therein commanding them to laye downe their armes which was the cause that euery man withdrew himselfe But in the meane time an armie was prepared to enter into Saintonge and Quiennie Monsieur de la Deuese ceased vppon the Castle Trompette and put out l'Estonnac and his adherents The Constable had commissiō to punnish those of Guyenne followed by Francis de Lorraine Counte d'Anmalle after Duke of Guise much renowmed in the raignes of Francis the second and Charles the ninth This Earle conducting 4000. Lansquenets and great numbers of French Horsemen entred into Saintonge which hee pacified without resistance not punishing them for their offences past minding to obtaine the name of a milde and gentle Prince and leauing the report of crueltie and seueritie vnto the Constable who being accompanied with all the forces and both the armes ioyned in one entred into Bourdeaux all armed giuing most hard speeches vnto the Captaine of the towne that at his entrie presented him with the keyes of the towne that at his entry presented him with the keyes of the Citie beseeching him to be fauourable vnto the citizens but he being master of the town without blow giuen bereaued the citizens of al their titles registers priuiledges and franchises depriued them of all honours burnt all their priuiledges caused the Court of Parliament to cease wholly disarmed the citizens pulled downe their belles and constrained the principallest of the citie to the number of seuen score to goe to the Fryers there to fetch the body of Monsieur de Monneins and to conuey it to the Church of S. Andrewes where it should be buried each of them with a waxe candle lited in his hands hauing first before the Constables lodging asked mercy both of God and the king and Iustice Estonnoc the two brethren du Saul and others had their heads striken off He forgot not likewise those that had bene assistant at the murthering of the Gouernor and the sacking of the houses a Prouost Marshall with a great number of souldiers went through Bourdeaux Baradois and Agenois executing such as had rung the belles and in the ende he tooke the two chiefe Leaders of the Commons named Talemagne and Galaffie who were broken vpon a wheele hauing first bene crowned with a Crowne of Iron burning hot for their punishment in vsurping the soueraigne Maiestie Pastime in the Court. This Tragedie ended in Comedies at the court for Anthony de Burbon Duke de Vandosine espoused Ieane d'Albert Princesse of Nauarre and Francis de Lorraine Duke d'Aumalle the daughter of the Duke of Ferrare But among those sweete and pleasant conceits they mixed a most rigorous bitter ordinance establishing within Parris an extraordinary chamber Persecutions against those of the religion therein to proceed against those of the religion as then called Lutherans whom they burnt to death if they remained constant in their profession The coronation of the Queene The pleasures of the Court increased more by the deliuery of the Queene of a young sonne and great part of this yere was passed ouer in playes sumptuous sports The Q. being crowned at S. Dennis vpō the 10. of Iune the 16. of the same month the king made his magnificall entry into Parris there ran at tilt to showe some pleasure to the Ladies and Gentlewomen which being ended he sat openly in the Court of Parliment where in presence of the Princes and Peeres of his Realme he gaue iudgement in diuers causes according to the auncient custome of his predecessors Difference betweene the kings in times past those of our time For the auncient kings of France were carefull and vsed ordinarily to hear the complaints of their subiects but of late yeares they referred that maner of exercise vnto the consciences of their Officers seeing by other mens eyes almost concerning all their affaires which is neither good nor comfortable for the people nor yet any meanes to further Iustice And since this carelesnesse hath entred into the maiesty of our kings the estate of the realme hath bin weakned and the maiestie royall imbased so that in the end the peple haue not refused to rise against the person of the king and sometimes to murther him But remedy herein wil be had when our kings abstain from shameful actions and only do that whervnto God hath called them A generall procession After many sports and deuises the king caused a generall solemne procession to be made in the moneth of Iuly wherein hee was present assisted by the Queene the Princes of the bloud Lords Cardinals Orders Estates and dignities of Parris and at his returne from the Bishops Pallace where hee had dyned hee would see and beholde the burning of certaine Christians detesting the errours and abuses mainteined and holden by the Papists and their Doctors Among the which was a Taylor where not long before A notable Taylor by the force and vertue of the spirite of God had made answere and giuen notice of his saith and religion in presence of the king and diuers Courtiers where hee sung a wonderfull lesson vnto the Duches de Valentimois of whom I spake before saying vnto her that she ought to content her selfe to haue so much infected France without mixing her venome and filthiniesse with so holy
Oppede whereof he was Lord vnder pretence of religion was become a mortall enemy vnto those of Cabrieres and Merindol where those husbandmen dwelt who in haruest time in despight of Menier reaped the corne which as then they found vpon their ground which hee held from them by force so that as then the execution was pursued And thervpon the Parliament at the instant request of M nier sent an huissier to the Cardinall de Tournon at whose request king Francis the first sent letters pattents to the parliament for the execution of that first sentence and by that meanes in the moneth of Aprill 1545. Menier naming himselfe Lieftenant to Monsieur de Grignan Gouernour of Prouence hauing assembled an armie of theeues and beeing accompanied by Monsieur de la Garde set fier in diuers villages about Merindol sent great numbers of poore Countrie-men into the Gallies and caused a young man to bee openly harquebushed and finding no man within Merindol pilled sacked burnt and rased all the houses and hauing besieged battered and by composition taken the litle Towne of Cabrieres in stead of holding his promise made vnto them he chose out 25. or 30. men such as pleased him that were cut and massaced to peeces in a Medowe that lay vnder the Towne about 40. women wherof most of them were great with childe were burnt within a barne and many beeing found hidden in their Cellors were tyed two and two togither and so ledde into the Hall of the Castle of Cabrieres where they were most cruelly murthered Within the Church many olde women young maides and children that had saued themselues were all put to the sword The number of the slaine and massacred amounting vnto 800. persons and more The Barron de la Garde ledde aboue 800. persons away and put them into the Gallies where the most part of them died in great miserie Many women and maides were deflowred and great numbers ledde prisoners to Marseille Aix and Auignon Diuers villages beeing wholly burnt and consumed by fire whereby the desolation and misery of that countrie was exceeding great But king Francis being sicke for the space of certaine years after that cruell massacre and vrged in conscience with a remorse of that mischiefe whereof hee had partly beene the cause and sorrie before his death hee could not execute open punishment vppon those that abusing his name and authoritie had committed so horrible a mischiefe among his subiects of Prouence expresly charged his sonne Henry not to deferre that punishment saying that if he put it in obliuion God wold bee reuenged thereof against him and that their memorie would remaine in horrour and execration vnto all straungers if the persons that had committed so notable a crime should bee suffered to escape vnpunished This clause expresly set downe within the Kings testament aduanced the discredit on the Cardinall of Tournon and put Grignan and la Garde in great paine but to conclude they had more feare then hurt for the king by his letters patents of the 17. of March 5549. caused the matter to bee heard by the Court of Parliament in Parris where Menier and three others his companions appeared in person the rest of the Councellors by their Atturneyes And there after long proces in stead of punishment one man onely called Guerin a Councellor lesse culpable then the rest was hanged in Parris Menier principal of that massacre escaped and falling out of his wits died beeing ceased with a secret fire within his bodie in the open sight knowledge of all the countrie of Prouence The rest of the matter vanished as it were in a smoke before the sight of men but God made both the king his Councell all his Realme to know and well perceiue that the blood of so many innocent persons and others that were put to death both before and after that time for the confessiō of the Gospell is most precious in his sight as the things that happened and fell out in the yeares ensuing haue well declared which we must in order set downe as time and place shall serue The death of Margaret Queene of Nauarre The same year in the month of December did Margaret de Orleans Queen of Nauarre sister to king Francis the first a most noble and famous Princesse and of as notable a spirit as any that liued in her time In the beginning of this year the king suppressed and abolished the imposition of salt in the countrie of Guyenne with all the officers that had the execution thereof for the summe of 450000. frankes with the countries of of Poicton Saintonge Angoulmois Perigort high and lowe Limosin and high lowe Marthe should pay vnto him with 25000. frankes to the officers for their charges Touching those of Bourdeaux in the month of October before they had procured and obtained a general pardon vpō condition that they and their successors shuld alwaies keep two ships furnished for the wars readie to put to sea to serue vnder whomsoeuer it should please the king to commaund and to receiue into the Castles of Trompette and du Ha such garrison as the king should send into them and to victuall them with all sorts of victualls which they should yearely furnish and renue taking away the olde And therevpon in the moneth of Ianuarie after the king reestablished the parlement and their Towne was reduced into the former estate they that had beene beaten making the amends Three Presidents in Parris displaced and after reestablished onely Liset At that time three Presidents of Parris not well thought of by the house of Guise as then beeing in great credit were displaced out of their offices but not long after S. Andre Minard hauing promised to become good seruitors were restored againe Liset was made Abbot of S. Victor that an other of lesse iudgement then himselfe might haue his place And so hee tooke vppon him to deale in matters of diuinitie wherein hee sped so hardly and of a good practition hee became so ignoranta sophister that falling in a great laughter hee was suddainly taken with a disease and so died Hee shewed himselfe a sworne and perpetual enemie to those of the religion thinking to aduance himselfe by cruell inuentions but hee was cut off by the way thereby seruing for an example to many better men then himselfe not to bandie against him vho is able to surprise and intrappe the subtillest in their fond inuentions and against whom the wisedome and force of man is nothing but meere beastlinesse and vanitie Remedies for false clipt mony This yeare because that most of the mony in France was found to be clipped by the kings edict al such mony was commaunded to bee cut in peeces and molten and many of that occupation among the which were diuers quoyners executed Bullen restored to the King In the monthes of Februarie and March a peace was agreed vppon betweene the kings of England France wherevpon
Emperour and the king to bring them to an agreement but nothing tooke effect each of thē seeming to haue right on his side meane time the differences touching religion began to increase such as would not receiue and acknowledge the traditions of the Pope were cruelly burnt They suffered the Turke to win diuers places in Europe and his Gallies as then came before Corse to ayde the Frenchmen were at the siege of Calui and Boniface among the Christians and holpe to conquer the Island and then returning homeward spoyled the coast of Toscane besieged Plombin and the I le of Elbe belonging to the Duke of Florence passing further executed an infinit of mischieses vpon the realmes of Naples Sicile and Calabre and so laden with great spoyles and numbers of Christians their prisoners they arriued in Constantinople other places without any impeachment so much so great was the hatred between the Emperour and the King that they had rather see the Turke inriched with Christians teasure then once to consent agree in one to inuade so common an enemie But returning to Siene Siene besicged and taken the Marques of Marignan came to besiege it with all his forces onely vpon the hope he had that Strossi beeing wounded and Monluc lying at the poynt of death being dead for it was thought they could not liue long Lanssac and Fourqueuau taken the Sienois being wholly destitute of counsell and French secorers would yeeld vnto him Strossi beeing somewhat recouered and hauing been certified of the death of Monluc hazarded himselfe with sixe companies of foote and two of launciers to come to Siene Where by the prudence and resolution of Serillac Nephew to Monluc he entered who by a stratageme of trompets caused an alarme in the Marquesse campe that thought verily some new armie had been come to set vppon them but hauing found Monluc liuing and in some better estate then he had been he returned againe yet not without great daunger Monluc hauing made many skirmishes vppon the enemie perceiued that in fine they would take the Towne whervpon hauing shewed the Souldiers and the Townes-men what he thought the Marques would do hee gaue order that euery man should be stinted in his victuals and that they should liue by prescript rules of war The Sienois very willing to followe his counsell and aduise did as he commanded The Marques hauing assayed by scaling the walles in the night-time to enter into the Citadell and the Fort of Camollia was valiantly repulsed with the losse of sixe hundreth of his men and by many skirmishes batteries intelligences and combats seeking to become maister of the towne being not able to effect his will determined to proceed with the first and surest resolution which was to constraine them by famin by which meanes his campe indured much miserie and euery moneth diminished more and more neuerthelesse in fine his perseuerance ouercame them so that vpon the 20. day of Aprill 1555. an honourable composition hauing been made and agreed vpon with Monsieur de Monluc his troupes and those of Siene the towne was yeelded vnto the Marques and after into the hands of the Duke of Florence Touching that which after happened to the territories of Siene I meane not at this present to intreate further thereof leauing that to the description of the warres of Italie from whence I must returne vnto Picardie Warres in Picardie Mariembourg being revictualled the Leaders that cōmanded in those quarters for the Emperour hauing erected an armie of twentie thousand foote fiue or sixe thousand Rutters and some Enfignes of olde bands of Spaniards caused a place called Giuets to bee fortified from whence they forraged the Country lying nearest vnto it and famished Mariembourg The king assembled his forces at Maubert Fontaine whereof Francis de Cleues Duke de Veuers was Lieftenant Generall hauing eight hundreth launciers as many light-horse about eight thousand footemen who once againe revictualled Mariembourg The 26. of Iulie the Rutters and the French light-horsemen met togither but the Rutters were presently constrained to reenter into their fort and the Count de Barlaimont General of the Emperors Armie refusing battaile the French men retired presently after the prince of Orange entred in to the kings country and spoiled the Castle of Faignolles After that in winter time Messieurs de Sanssac and Bourdillon the third time reuictualled Mariembourg The raigne and troublesome season togither with the want of victualls on both sides impeached the armies from meeting togither During this last voiage the king hauing gotten the writings and euidences whereby Iohn de Brosse Duke d'Estampes claymed a right and title vnto the Duchie of Bretaigne into his hands gaue the Count of Ponthieure in exchange thereof vnto the said Duke The Emperor resigneth all his estates vnto his son and his brother At the same time the Emperor a prince of great valour and courage as all Histories do witnesse hauing so long time borne a world of affaires troubles within his braines determined to discharge himselfe thereof and hauing sent for the Prince Don Philip his sonne vnto Brissels then king of England resigned vnto him his kingdomes of Spaine Naples Cicile and others whereof hee gaue him letters pattents commanding all his subiects to obey him Those letters being deliuered vpon the 25. of october 1555. were read in open counsel by the Chancelor And among many notable instructions aduises by the father giuen vnto the Prince his son he exhorted him to make peace with the King of France and to haue pittie vpon Christendome miserably tormented by so long and cruell warres He likewise left off the Empire and by letters vnto the Electors desired them to giue that dignitie vnto Ferdinand his brother to whom by right it ought to appertaine hauing by them bin chosen and elected for king of the Romanes Wars in the Isle of Corse About the same time the Geneuois assaied to win the Isle of Corse not long before taken from them by Monsieur de Termes and sent thither the Prince d'Aurie that assailed the port of S. Florent which yeelded by composition the souldiers issuing armed and their goods saued returning to Boniface to Iourdā Vrsin d'Aurie following after them thinking to win it but he was soone repulsed to his great losse About the moneth of the same yeare died the Marquesse of Marignā The death of the Marques of Marignā being out of fauor with the Emperor For hauing too long prolōged the taking of Siene consuming a whole armie about it he was solemnly buried at Millan the Duke d'Alue being assistant at his funerall King Philip following his fathers counsaile and solicited therunto by Mary Queene of England his wife inclined to peace which to effect after many meetings and conferences a truce for 5. yeares was agreed vpon between thē The Count de Lalain Truce for 5. yeares between the 2. Kings came to Blois to sweare the truce vnto
Counsell giuen the king against the peace and quietnesse of his Realme The king hauing agreed with his forraine enemies with whom all men hoped a most sure and perpetuall alliance to be made was againe put in minde and counselled to redouble the hard and cruell punishments by him deuised against those of the religion who in the middle of those troubles had much increased thoughout all the Realme And so in steed of spirituall meanes to be vsed in things concerning the soule diuers euil Councellors to this Prince caused him to conceiue an extream hatred to those of the religion filling his eares with many vnworthie terrible reports against them Monsieur d'Andelot first felt it being for religion committed prisoner in Melun wherevpon many discontentments and suspitions grewe among the most noble houses whereof ensued diuers and many mischiefes which after the death of king Henry began to increase who hauing vnderstood that in the Parliament of Parris many and diuers iudgements were made touching the condemnation of such as were accused for religioÌ„ was counselled to sit in person at a Mercurialist iudgement Mercuriales and imprisonment of certaine Councellors in Parris within the Augustines because as then the Pallace was preparing and making readie for the marriages that there hee might heare and vnderstand the aduise of all his Presidents and Councellours Others of the same Councel esteemed that the presence of the king wold but abash such as seemed to oppose therin and that so those of the religion remaining without support and condemned they would in fine procure the execution of their desires But it fell out cleane contrary for that some Councellours said and flatly affirmed that it would be more conuenient to deale with lesse rigour against those of the religion vntill such time as by a free and generall counsell they had beene shewed their errour Hee that spake boldest and plainest was Anne de Bourg a man of great learning and pietie The king that neuer had heard any speech of such importance commaunded the Constable to leade du Bourg and other Councellours prisoners to aunswere their obiections swearing in great chollour that hee would see the end Wherevpon Monsieur Montgommery Captaine of the guard ledde du Bourg into the Bastille the rest into other places Meane time those of the religion were hardly pursued in euery place who during those troubles in the moneth of May caused a Sinode to be holden by all their Pastors A Sinode of the religion in Parris Deacons and ancients within the Towne of Parris wherein the Articles of the Doctrine and Discipline of the reformed Churches throughout all the Realme were written and set downe Meane time the Courtiers sought and deuised all the meanes of ioyes and pleasures they could inuent thereby to solemnise the royall marriages both of the Kings daughter and of his sister I speake not of the murther committed vppon the person of a renowmed Player of Comodies who at that time had made most magnificall preparations therewith to reioyce the Court that was slaine in the house of Reims by his owne seruants so that all his preparations were layd aside Preparation for the marriages neither yet of the Queenes Dreame nor of the apprehensions and discourses of diuers Politicians who were of opinion that this great Wheele of earthly prosperities would shortly turne about onely I will shew you that the sighes of prisoners for religion the horrible torments vsed to some of them and the earnest prayers of infinit numbers of families threatned and that wel perceiued that the peace had beene agreed vppon betweene the Frenchmen and the Spaniards thereby to make a warre with them that neuer should haue an end were the winds that hoysed vp the wonderful and strange alterations which the wise and prouident counsell of God in short time after made to appeare Marriage of the King of France his daughter with king Phillip Elizabeth of France hauing been solemnely ledde and conducted by the King her father > vnto the Cathedrall church of Parris and there most magnifically and in great triumph espoused by the Duke d'Alue Deputie for the king of Spaine his Maister The espousals done by the Cardinall de Bourbon and after fiers of ioy made for the peace the reioycings of the people glad of that rest quietnesse the Banquets Proclaimations and Ceremonies accustomed with all maiestie performed assisted by so many Noble Princes Lords Gentlemen Cardinals Officers and Domesticall seruants both of the King and Queenes houshould there likewise beeing present the Dukes of Sauoy and Alue the Prince of Aurange the Counte d'Aiguemont and other Lords of the lowe Countries in great numbers and after the sumptuous banquets playes maskes and daunces followed the last act which changed all those ioyfull and pleasant Comodies into bloodie and mornfull Tragedies wherein the king played the lamentable Prologue for that hauing published a running at Tilt to bee performed within S. Anthonies streete Atourney in S. Aâ—thoniesstreete where against the aduise of those that besought him to leaue that exercise to such as should shewe him pleasure therein he would in person be a principall actor seconded by the Dukes of Guise and Ferrare But the second day of his running hauing runne verie often the Queene desired him to leaue off saying that the Duke of Sauoy might supply his place He sent her word by the Marshall de Montmorency that hee would runne but once more and that for the loue of her Wherevppon hauing sent a Launce to the Counte de Montgommory commanding him to runne against him and the Counte earnestly excusing himselfe eyther for the respect hee bare vnto his Prince or fearing to faile as the first day hee had many times done not once touching any against whome hee ranne The King sent him expresse commaundement not to refuse him With that the Earle ranne and breaking his Launce vppon the Kinges Cuirasse The king sore hurt with a splinter of a lance a splinter thereof entered into the Kinges Vizarde not beeing well closed and by chaunce ranne into his eye so farre in that his head festered Wherewith the King presently beganne to fall by reason of the blowe but the Princes and Lordes ranne to him and ledde him into his Pallace of Touernelles where in great dolor and paine he died vpon the tenth day of Iuly He died in the flower of his age in the thirteenth yeare of his raigne and the fortie and two yeare of his age the day before his death he desired that the marriage of the Duke of Sauoy and Lady Margaret his sister should be celebrated in his Chamber and that whatsoeuer had beene accorded vnto by the treatie of peace touching the Duke should wholly bee performed His heart was buried in the Temple of Celestins in the Chappell of the Dukes of Orleans his royall Obsequies were celebrated vppon the thirteene day of August and his bodie buried at Saint Dennis in the Common
fatned by the confiscations of the goods of those of the religion and by borrowings neuer to be repayed hauing made offer of all that hee had to the house of Guise was receiued into their band The Constable sent home The Constable perceiuing that the king in open Parliament had declared that his meaning was that from thence foorth al men should haue recourse touching matters of estate the crowne and of his house vnto his two Vncles the Duke of Guise and the Cardinall of Lorraine and that by consequent his mortall enemie entered into his place and doing that which wholly apperteined to his offices of Constable and Great-Maister of France yea and in the presence of the Spaniards and other straungers who before had made so much account of him about eight daies after the kings death went to present himselfe vnto the king deliuering vppe the seales to him committed by King Henry and hauing been certified from the king that the charge of the treasures and other affaires concerning the estate were as then committed to the Cardinall and to the Duke of Guise the commandement of all things that belonged vnto the warres and that for his part the king permitted him leaue to depart and go vnto his house saying hee still retained him of his Councell and that whensoeuer hee would come vnto the Court hee should bee welcome he thāked the king for suffring him so to retire beseeching him that as touching his comming vnto the Councell his Maiestie would excuse him for two causes the one because hee could not serue vnder such men ouer whom he had alwaies commaunded the other for that beeing holden and accounted for an olde and simple man his counsell would not bee necessarie otherwise he offered both life and goods to serue the King Which done he went to see the Queene mother that handled him very rudely reproching him that he in presence of the king with smiling countenance should say that he had neuer a childe that in any thing resembled him but onely his bastard-daughter that married with the Marshall de Montmorency Yet for the loue of her deceased king and husband she said she was content to remit her owne particular quarrell for which if it pleased her she could haue caused him to loose his head yet she exhorted him not altogither to leaue the Court but to come thither sometimes He denied the accusation which she alledged touching her children affirming it to be false desiring her to haue in remembrance the many seruices by him done to her and to the Realme and not to regard the euill report of such as were his enemies that shuld not do him all the mischief which they pretended And so hauing taken his leaue and brought his maister vnto his Tombe he withdrew himselfe vnto his house The Princes of the blood scattered Touching the Princes of the blood the Prince of Conde was sent into Flanders there to confirme the peace to whom was deliuered a thousand Crownes to beare his charges The Prince of la Roche Suryon was sent thither likewise to beare the order of France vnto the king of Spaine and at his returne appointed with the Cardinal of Burbon to cōduct the Princesse Elizabeth into Spain The Parlimēts were appointed at the good pleasure of those of Guise The Cardinal de Turnō an old enimy to the Cōstable to al those of the religiō was repealed from Rome reestablished of the priuy councel The Kings Officers of his house chaunged part of the old officers of the kings house were discharged part sent home vnto their houses with half their pensions to giue place to others And to cōclude there staied not one in the Court that fauoured the Constable The Prouinces of the Realme and the frontier Townes were filled with Guisians and all Gouernours and men of warre commaunded to obey the Duke of Guise as the king himselfe All the Parliaments were aduertised Those of Guise haue charge of all that the Cardinall had the whole ordering and disposing of the treasures and of the estate The Queene Mother aduanced aboue all obtained the monies proceeding of the confirmation of Offices and the priuiledges of Townes and corporations whereof shee gaue a part to whome it pleased her although such summes ought not of right to be exacted vnlesse the Crowne fall into an other braunch First Edicts The first Edicts were made against such as bare Armes namely Pistols and Bastinadoes then against long Cloakes and great Hose It was a common saying in euery mans mouth that the Cardinall was a fearefull man if there were euer any in all the world hauing vnderstood by a certaine Magician in Rome that by enuie and then when he should be most in credit his enemies would cause him to be slaine with a Bastianado for that cause hee had procured that Edict being alwaies in great distrust euen at the time when all men were in most subiection to him Among so many affaires the 14. of Iuly Letters Pattents from the king confirmed the Commission vnto the Iudges appointed to proceed in iudgement against Anne du Bourg Proces against Anne de Bourg and other prisoners and foure other Councellours that were committed to prison Du Bourg stedfast in religion was hotly pursued Bertrand Cardinall and Archbishop of Siens beeing one of the principall wheeles of this criminall Chariot and the Cardinall of Lorraine the leader therof Those of the religion perceiuing themselues to be at the point of a more violent persecution by expresse Letters vnto the Queene besought her by her authoritie to commaund the leauing off to persecute them in such great rigor Shee promised the Prince of Conde Madame de Roy his mother in lawe and to the Admirall to cause the persecutions for to cease so they would leaue their assembling togither The Queen-mother promiseth to doo for those of the religion and that euery man wold liue according to his own conscience secretly and not to the hurt of others Shee had been most earnestly mooued by the letters of one named Villemadon that knew great part of his secrets putting her in minde of her great affection vnto pittie at such time as shee was barren exhorting her not to withdrawe the Princes of the blood from the mannaging of the affaires of the estate thereby to aduance and make Kings the house of Guise Those letters were written the 26. day of August and wrought with so great effect that from thenceforward for a certaine time the Queene seemed to hearken vnto the comfort and ease of those of the religion meane time those of Guise to make their gouernment seeme agreeable to al the people and to leese nothing in the kings name published letters of the reuocation of all alienations made Alienations made by king Henry reuoked as well for life as yeares beeing for recompences of any seruices past except those sales whereof the monies had beene imployed for the kings great vrgent
affaires the Dowries of the kings daughters and that of the late Queene Ellenor which as then the Princesse of Portingall enioyed the rest to be revnited vnto the Kings domaines ordinary receipts This reuocation was a Bowe to certaine Princes great Lords and notable personages who by such pollicie were defeated of their seruices and all rewards made vnto them by the late deceased King On the other side such as were in fauour with the house of Guise obtained other letters of exemption and by that meanes some were put out and others kept possession or else obtained some other new place The king of Nauarre solicited to come to the Court rideth thither The Constable perceiuing the King would die had sent vnto the King of Nauarre to counsell him with all speede to repaire vnto the Court and to ceise vppon the gouernment of the young King before any other This Prince not greatly desirous to deale with such affaires and as then somewhat distrusting the Constable stirred not giuing those of Guise the meanes leisure to thrust themselues into his place but certaine Princes Lords moouing him againe hee beganne to hearken vnto it communicating the same to foure of his principall Councellours being Iarnac the Bishop of Mande President of his Councell Descars his Chamberlin and Bouchart his Chancellour who were of aduise that without longer delay he should ride vnto the Court whereof those of Guise beeing aduertised promised hilles and mountaines to Mande and Descars if they could finde the meanes to staye him they mooued therewith staying till their maister was on horsebacke and onward of his iourney began to diswade him shewing him of certaine imminent daungers that were not to bee shunned by seeking to stand too much vppon his degree and that hee ought to proceede therein by indifferent meanes without seeking to hazard himselfe and to winne the good report and fauour of all men vpon this counsell beeing come to Poictiers where diuers Princes Noblemen went to meet him hee shewed many resolutions and gaue good hope and comfort vnto the Ministers of the Churches specially those in Parris Orleans and Tours desiring him that they might as yet bee ayded and assisted touching that which concerned the open profession of religion What entertainment hee had The first disliking shewed vnto him when hee approached neare the Court beeing at S. Germain in Laye was that his furriers found no place for him within the Castle and that the Duke of Guise said vnto his Marshall that it should cost him his life and tenne thousand more with him before any man should take the place and lodging which the king had giuen him to be neare vnto his person The second that not any of the Court went to meet and receiue him as the manner is specially to the Princes of the blood The third that being gone to do his dutie to the Queene-mother and after to the king those of Guise in stead of going to imbrace and bid him welcome stayed til he went vnto them and was constrained to accept the lodging of the Marshall of S. Andre who after the courtly manner had offered it vnto him not thinking to be so soone taken at his word The fourth that the next day in stead of being warned to sit in counsell no man was sent vnto him eyther to salute him or once to see what he did The fift that at the end of three or foure daies the king called him aside shewing him that his Vncle 's the Duke of Guise and the Cardinall of Lorraine had the whole charge of all affaires committed vnto them and that whosoeuer would seeke to please him must obey them in all things whatsoeuer But touching his pensions and estates hee confirmed them vnto him assuring him that whensoeuer he would come vnto the Court hee should be heartily welcome Diuers of the king of Nauarres traine perceiuing that he had quietly swallowed all those pilles withdrewe themselues or else claue to the surest side as Iarnac that ioyned with those of Guise Within fewe daies after this Prince went vnto Saint Dennis there to accomplish certaine ceremonies accustomed after the death of king Henry which done he went to Parris accompanied with his brother the Prince of Conde and some others but not many and beeing there hee sounded the aduise and minds of some whom he esteemed to be well affected vnto the Realme but he could not perceiue any thing by them Sacrying of the King as Reims Those of Guise following on their course vpon the 18. of September caused the king to be sacred at Reims and presently after the Queene-mother sent the Admirall and the Cardinall of Chastillon to the Constable to intreat him to resigne his place of Great-maister vnto the Duke of Guise to whom the yeare before king Henry had flatly denied it in exchange whereof she promised him one of the offices of Marshals of France for his eldest son The Constable resigneth his estate of great maister and the Admirall his gouernment which was giuen to Brissae The Constable resigned that office wholly into the kings hāds got the other with al speed to be giuen vnto his son the Duke of Guise was presently inuested therwith The Admirall being Gouernour of Picardie perceiuing that they sought to put him out and that for the same cause they had assayed to set diuision betweene him and the Prince of Conde and that they beganne to cut off some part of the mony that should bee imployed about the charges of the necessary fortifications of the Frontier-townes thereby to bring him in disgrace and so to thrust him out with shame preuented them and shewed the king that the same gouernment for many reasons belonged to the Prince of Gonde whose ancestors had long time held it He had no sooner spoken the word but they presently tooke him thereat as touching the resignation but not concerning the prouision for that in stead of giuing it to the Prince those of Guise got thē a new participant bestowing it vpon the Marshall de Brissac While in this sort Writings against the rule of strangers they vsed both the Princes and great Lords the meaner sort could not be content for that by diuers printed pamphlets whereof some were directed to the Queen-mother some in taunting verse and some in prose both by the behauiors past and present they fully discouered the intent of those of Guise A Target against those deuises whom they printed forth in all their colours they by those dealings perceiuing some secret matter working that their authoritie was but weakly built begā to think better vppō it which was the cause that at one time they made 18. knights of the order whereof sprang the common saying that the order of France is a collor for euery beast And because in those writings it was noted that to preuent such disorders it would bee necessarie to assemble and call a Parliament of all
Iulian Forme stain The eighteenth of December Anthony de Minard President in the Parliament of Parris was slaine with a Pistole as in the euening he returned from the place to go to his house but it could neuer bee knowne from whence it came no more then of the death of Iulian Ferme Agent for the house of Guise slaine hard by Chambourg where the king laye and sound with certaine notes and memorials cocerning the liues of certaine notable personages some were imprisoned and in great danger for the death of Minard and among the rest one Stuard a Scot who although he was of the linage of the Queen as then raigning was cruelly tortured yet could they not drawe any thing from him that once might preiudice himselfe or any other About this time the Elector Palatin hauing sent his Ambassadour vnto the king to craue that the Councellour du Bourg might bee giuen to him to serue him in the towne of Heidelberg the Cardinal being greatly moued at the death of Minard wrote vnto the Court of Parliament that they should presently proceed with their proces against du Bourg but before it proceeded so farre expresse Proclamations were once againe made and published against bearing of armes Anne de Bourg executed for religion The 20. of December Anne de Bourg hauing constantly perseuered in the consession of the faith concerning those poynts which at this day are in controuersie and debate touching religion was degraded and the next day the Iudges caused to the number of sixe or seuen hundreth men as well horse as footemen and all armed to set vppe Gibbets and to carry wood into all the places of Parris there vnto appoynted And in this sort vpon the 23. of the same moneth du Bourg was led to S. Iohn in Greue and there hanged which done his bodie was burnt and consumed to ashes Presently after other were burnt in Parris and many other places for the religion and many meanes inuented to massacre such as passed along the streets not doing reuerence vnto the Images as then newly set vppe at all the corners of the streets and euery passenger was constrained to contribute their money to the boxes presented vnto them therewith to beare the charge of the waxe-candies Extraordinary rigors that were set vppe to burne before them otherwise it cost thē their liues They went likewise from house to house to gather mony for the maintenance of the officers and suings of proces against such as were found faultie therein and whosoeuer refused or delayed to put his hand into his purse sped but hardly for it The vsurpation of the insupportable dealings of the house of Guise awaked the French men These proceedings altogither vnsupportable the threatnings against the greatest personages in the Realme the putting backe of the Princes and principall Lords of the Realme the despising of the Estates of the land the corruptions of the Courts of Parliament adicted to the part of the newe and straunge Gouernours that ruled both the king and Queene the common treasors the offices and the benefices diuided and giuen at their commaundement and to whom it pleased them their violent and of it selfe vnlawsull gouernment against the lawes of the land and the order of the Realme mooued most great and maruellous hatreds against the Duke of Guise and the Cardinal of Lorraine and caused that diuers not being able longer to indure so great oppression beganne to vnite themselues to gither thereby to determine vppon some iust defence that so they might erect the auncient and law full gouernment of the land Whervpon counsell was asked both touching lawe and conscience of diuers Lawyers and Diuines wherof the greatest part concluded that men might lawfully oppose and resist against the gouernment vsurped by those of Guise and if need were take armes thereby to repulse and withstand their violences so that the Princes who in that case are borne as lawful Magistrates or ony one of them would take the matter vppon him beeing therevnto required by all the Estates of the land or else by the greatest part thereof The first that with earnest zeale determined vppon this matter of so great consequence were not all of one opinion for some of them mooued with a true zeale of seruing God the king and the Realme beleeued verily that they could not do a more iust and vpright worke then to procure the abolition of Ferrany and the reestablishment of the Estate and withall to open the way to some meanes of comfort and reliese to those of the religion There were some that were desirous of change and the rest prouoked by euill will and hatred conceiued against those of the house of Guise for hauing done some wrong and outrage eyther against themselues their friends or allies But in effect their onely and finall intent was to inforce themselues wholly to worke the meanes to cease that vnlawfull gouernment and that the Estate of the realme might bee established as it ought to bee But for that in this intent both generall lawfull and commendable there chanced diuers particular and defectiue discourses it is not to bee wondred at if that there happened a confusion in the pursuit and that if the euent fell out but badly for those that tooke it in hand specially such as mixed their particular passions with the consideration of the common profit of the land For as touching those that onely determined to release and free the Realme of France from the yoake of strangers although the greatest part of them are dead in the pursuite thereof as well then as since that time in the raignes of the two kings ensuing and that as yet that debate not being determined yet are they gon out of this world with that most singular contentment in their mindes to haue most couragiously sacrificed and yeelded vppe their liues to reduce their countrie into a true spiritual and corporall libertie Difficultie in a great enterprise In these first enterprises there appeared an other great and doubtfull difficultie which was how they should beginne to addresse themselues vnto the king for that besides his minoritie hee had no great vnderstanding and it was impossible to speake vnto himselfe about such affaires considering his whole affection desire was to bend himselfe vnto the counsel of those two whom they sought to withdrawe and separate from him To present the matter vnto his priuie Councell would be as much as to allowe their aduersaries to bee their Iudges and so euidently to worke their own confusion to haue recourse vnto the Parliaments it would lesse auaile and yet more daungerous so that in fine the surest way was found to bee by ceising vppon the persons of the Duke of Guise and the Cardinall of Lorraine by some deuise and vnder the name of some one or some number of the principall members of the Estate to demaund an assembly of a Parliament to the end that they two might there yeeld an account
of the administration of the affaires of the land Wherevppon Lois de Bourbon Prince of Conde was most instantly desired to hearken therevnto and by that meanes to hinder and impeach the to tall ruine both of the king and Queene The Prince of Conde much affected to the good of the king and of his Realme And as some haue lightly thought and written that all this whole proceeding after named the tumult of Amboise had been an enterprise of men wholly rash seditious enemies to God and the Estate prouoked by dispaire and induced by fury so is it found esteemed by others euil affected vnto the house memorie of this Prince that durst presume to charge him to haue bin mooued and pushed forward with some particular affection that entered into his minde and that it was but a meere quarrell against the house of Guise which by that meanes hee sought to end and after that to mooued some greater change but not to turne this smal Cronicle into a large Apologie it shall suffice simply to rehearse those things which for the most part are fresh and in the memorie of many a Frenchman as then liuing and such as were borne since and hauing beene faithfully informed thereof for as for men that are partiall who to gratifie such as held the sword ouer their heades while they caused the bookes wherein most impertinently they handle this matter to bee imprinted without saying woorse by them both the world present and to come will wholly reiect their witnesse as full of euident and meere passion and cleane repugnant to the truth and will auouch that the Prince therein shewed himselfe to be a true Frenchman and most affectionate friend vnto the good and seruice both of the king and Realme The Prince then with his most secret Councell hauing long and deliberately thought and consulted vppon this poynt wherein hee was desired to be assistant as in truth the sequell therof required first gaue expresse charge and commission to certaine wise expert and well approoued friends secretly carefully and exactly to inquire what were the principall thinges that might bee imposed against those of Guise which beeing knowne with a good and safe conscience hee might looke into that which should redownd vnto the good both of the king and of his Realme The informations made it was found and well known by men both of person and quallitie and such as were indifferent that they might well and lawfully bee charged with diuers poynts of treason as also with an infinit number of pillings and interceptions as well of the treasures of the Common-wealth as of particular persons And among other notable crimes he was assured and offered to haue it iustified by such as in a maner had beene their houshold seruants that they ment to cease vppon the Realme Abreefe collection of the informations made against those of Guise and put all the Princes of the blood to death assoone as they once had fully exterped those of the religion determining in short space to rid themselues of all their enemies hauing alreadie vnderstood by the Phisitians that the king could not liue long neither yet haue issue which in mans iudgement might easilie be effected considering that those of Guise had both iustice mony strong Townes men of warre and the people at their commandement Monsieur Renaudie vndertaketh the charge to cease vpon the bodies of the Guisians The question was these informations beeing made how the persons of those parties so charged might bee taken and ceased vpon This was the difficultie which Godfrey de la Remaudie surnamed la Forest Barron de Perigot and a Gentleman of an ancient house vndertooke to resolue accepting the mannaging thereof vnder the authoritie of the Prince who in person promised to bee at the day and in in the place where and when those of Guise should so bee taken vppon condition that nothing should bee sayd enterprised nor done in any sort whatsoeuer eyther against God the king his bretheren the Princes nor the Estate that in doing otherwise hee would himselfe bee he that first should seeke for to oppose against al those that vndertooke the contrary which conclusion was made about the end of the yeare 1559. 1560. The Lady Elizabeth of France married vnto the King of Spaine departed from the Court of Blois about the beginning of December beeing conducted by the king her brother and the Queene her mother as farre as Chastellerault and Poictiers and keeping on her way with the Cardinall of Bourbon the Prince de la Roche Suryon and other great Lords into Gascon at Bourdeax the King of Nauarre met her and so ledde her with great honour through his countries keeping her companie vntill hee entered vppon the borders of Spaine The Ladie Elizabeth leâ—de into Spaine where she was receiued by the Noblemen and Lords appointed by king Philip who with great pompe and magnificence they led vnto their Maister about the beginning of this yeare An order for prouision of Offices The first of Ianuarie a Proclamation was made in the kings name for the prouision of Iudiciall offices the nomination of the offices beeing committed vnto the Iudges and the Kings officers who nominating three persons for each office they should giue their names vnto the king that out of them hee might chuse him whom hee iudged to bee fit and capable for the place But this was but an ordinance in paper and wholly without effect as many others had been the same moneth and the next the proces against the Councellors Coucellors holden prisoners released la Porte de Foix du Faut and Fumee that had beene comitted prisoners with Anna du Bourg were ended and all they for a small fine were set at libertie They vsed all the meanes they could to condemne the Councellour Fumee but hee behaued himselfe so well and wifely against all the Iudges and other his aduersaries that in the end hee wound himselfe out of their hands Assembly at Nautes But to returne to that which is more important The first of February la Renaudie with a great number of the Nobilitie and others of all the Prouinces of the Realme met at Nautes where vnder colour of soliciting certaine proces in the Parliament of Britaigne which as then was holden therein they assembled where after certaine inuocations vpon the name of God al before recited was there by Renaudie exposed and declared And after diuers of theÌ„ had giuen their iudgements and esteemed the enterprise to be both iust necessary one among therest required that before they gaue their promise each of them should sweare and solemnely vowe to God not to enterprise or do any thing against the authoritie of the king or the Estate of France protesting for his part that if he might perceiue it that euen when the execution should bee brought to effect hee would aduertise the king and sooner suffer himselfe to bee slaine before his face then to
expressely to forbid the Princes comming vnto the court vppon paine of death not to enter into any of the kings walled Townes as then they were alreadie inclosed among the forces of their enemies vnder the conduct of Marshall de Termes The Cardinall d'Armaignac Descars and others vntrustie seruants made the king of Nauarre beleeue that this verball commaundement of Montpesat was onely but a meere brauado of those of Guise which both the king and his mother would disauouch The Princes refusing all aduertisements went vnto Orleans The Princes hauing past Chastelleraut were more certainly aduertised of their michiefe to come and counselled to keepe the high waies because of diuers Ambassadours that were appoynted and set to kill them if they once went out of the way vnder pretence that they sought to saue themselues and at the same time means was offered vnto them to bring them vnto Anger 's and so into Normandie where they shuld want nothing but they continued in their first resolution trauelling by easie iourneyes and it seemed that one of the bretheren was as a Prouost Marshall that ledde the other to prison Therevpon those of Guise led the king to Orleans thither calling al the Nobilitie men of armes which made both young and olde to thinke that some pretence was ment against the Sates but by a rumour spred abroad it was said that all those forces beeing assembled and brought togither was to assiege and chastice Orleans whereof the principal Citizens were registred in the Criminal bookes to passe the daunger and by their confiscations to grease the hands of diuers hungrie Courtiers vnder pretence that they had beene of the enterprise of Amboise Rigorous dealing towards those of Orleans For this cause Mansieur de Sipierre a slaue to those of Guise appoynted for Lieftenant to the Prince de la Roche Suryon Gouernour of Orleans being arriued in the Towne about the beginning of October disarmed the Inhabitants filled such houses as were suspected with Souldiers and committed the custodie of the Gates vnto the Sheriffes The Prince their Gouernour beeing entered therein about the twelfth of the same month and receiued with honour by the principall Cittizens aduertised them that the king would make his entrie therein vppon the seuenteenth day ensuing which terme beeing prolonged for the space of one day vppon the eighteenth hee made his enterie The troupes of the Towne being in number about foure thousand men to whom they had restored their armes onely their Bastianadoes the principall Cittizens following in good order and all the streets hanged with Tapistrie and other hangings The king beheld all those troupes passing along through the Subburbes which beeing reentered into the Towne hee mounted on horsebacke riding vnder a Canapie of cloth of Gold and so went straight vnto the Church and being on the way his horse stumbled in such maner that he had surely fallen if he had not presently bin relieued After dinner al the troupes went to meet the Queene who likewise made an honourable and braue entrie but those of Guise were at neither of both fearing as some say to meete with some desperate fellow that might hurt them because a Magician in Rome had shewed the Cardinall that both hee and his brother should die a violent death The arriuall of the Princes in Orleans and bow they were receiued The Euen before all Saints day beeing the last of October the Princes trusting to their innocencies and reposing themselues vpon the grace of God to whom they recommended themselues as also caused al those of the religion by praiers to doo the like arriued at Orleans and past from the beginning of the gate vntil they came to the kings lodging in the Estappe through diuers souldiers all footemen ranged along in rankes so close togither all armed that all that long way not any man could passe betweene them Not one Courtier nor Townes-man stepped foorth to meete them onely the Cardinall de Bourbon and the Prince de la Roche Suryon who by expresse licence had obtained that fauour receiued them The king of Nauarre according to the custome desiring to enter on horsebacke within the Court Gate was put backe with a rude aunswere that the great Gates might not bee opened they being then constrained to light went into the king that stayed for them in the great Hall accompanied with his vncles of Guise and other Courtiers whereof not one of them once stepped forward to meete them Their entertainment was but meane and after due and solemne reuerence night grewe on which caused the king to go into his mothers Chamber followed onely by the Princes those of Guise not once seeking to enter The Queen mother hauing receiued them with the water standing in her eyes the king speaking vnto the Prince of Conde said hee had beene aduertised from diuers places The Kings speech to the Prince of Conde The Princes answere that hee sought to make diuers enterprises against him and the State of his Realme for the which cause he had sent for him to heare what hee could say by word of mouth The Prince that neither wanted courage nor audacitie aunswered boldly in his owne defence and in such sort discouered those of Guise his enemies His imprisonment that the king could not otherwise iudge but that great wrong and iniurie was offered vnto his blood neuerthelesse according to the conclusion made before his arriuall the king commaunded Chauigny Captaine of the guard expressely sent thither by those of Guise to take the Prince which hee did and ledde him prisoner vnto a house not farre from thence before the which there was erected a Fort of Bricke fluncard and filled with field-peeces and diuers cannoniers to keepe them which peeces beate along three streetes whereby it was able to defend all men from comming neare vnto the prison The windowes of his chamber were closed vppe and he was kept so straightly that no man spake vnto him but onely his Chamberlaine The king of Nauarre desired that his brother might bee committed vnto his charge The entertainment of the King of Nauarre and others and hee would gage his life for his foorth comming but it was refused him and touching himselfe his guard was taken from him and still hauing watch about him both by night and day At the same time certaine were sent to cease vpon Madame du Roye mother in lawe to the Prince being in her house of Anicy in Picardie from whence with great rigor she was brought vnto Saint Germains by Monsieur de Renouart and de Caronges executers of that commission They likewise sorgot not the Councellour la Haye at Parris as one that dealt for the Prince such as were his faithfull friends within Orleans withdrew themselues out of the daunger Bonchart Chauncellour to the king of Nauarre at the same time was taken in his owne house by Iarnac who in shewe made great apparance of disliking Bouchart threatning him in presence
Lorraine A Gentleman one of their Participants and in time past very familier with the Prince was appointed by them to conferre with him He pronounceth warre against the Guisians as also to sound his full meaning and intent and therewith to seeke to abate his courage which hee pretending the Prince desired him to shewe those of Guise that for his part hee hadde receiued so many and great wrongs and iniuries at theyr hands that their quarrell could neuer bee fully ended eyther at the swordes poynt or else by Lanuce which if hee coulde not effect yet hee hoped before his death to make them manifestly to bee knowne and founde culpable of those faultes by them imposed vppon him This most haughtie resolution caused them to sende for the President de Thou Barthollomewe Faye and Iaques Violle Counecllours of Parris certayne Maisters of the requests Bourdin Attourney Generall They seeke to make his processe and du Tillet the Clarke to examine the Prince vppon high Treason and that if they coulde not finde him guiltie thereof they shoulde then examine him vppon the Artickles of his fayth The Prince aunswered them that it belonged not vnto them to put any such questions vnto him not specifying diuers causes of refusing them therein which hee might well haue shewed specially against de Thou whome hee most sharpelye reprooued and when they enterprised to proceede further in lawe the Prince appealed vnto the King But the next day being the 15. of Nouember the peale was declared by the priuie Counsell to bee of no force from which the Prince hauing once againe appealed hee was commaunded vpon paine of high treason to aunswere before those Commissioners He purgeth himself of treason and openly professeth religion which he did hauing two Councellers to helpe him And before them he clearely acquited himselfe of treason and boldly confessed and auouched the religion Not long after the Secretary Robertet brought him a certaine paper containing diuers speeches pretended to haue beene spoken by him at Amboise beholding the execution of certaine prisoners Hee therewith at large expounded his meaning vpon those speeches yet was there no witnesses produced against him for the same no nor Bouchart himselfe that had faithfully promised vnto the Cardinall by word of mouth to shewe him many wonderfull things touching the Prince but they proceeded so farre that vppon his aunsweres hee had iudgement of death pronounced vppon him and his head to bee striken off vppon a Scaffold before the Kings Pallace vppon the tenth of December then next ensuing at the entering of the Estates into the Parliament He is condemned by the priuie Councell and participants of Guise It is affirmed and published by writing that this iudgement was vnderwritten and sealed by all the priuie Councell onely the Chauncellour and Monsieur de Mortier that delayed it off as also by diuers great Lords and Barrons by the eighteene knights of the Order newly chosen and by diuers others participants of the house of Guise and by more Maisters of Requests and Councellours of the Parliament which the king sent for and caused to come thither that not once dealt in the cause The Counte de Sancerre refused to signe it desiring the King with weeping eyes rather to cut off his head then once to mooue him therevnto whereat the King much abashed dismissed the Counte not pressing him any further therein They likewise vsed many rude and hard dealings towards the Princesse of Conde who very stoutly and with a meruellous courage sued for her husband Meanes and subtilties vsed that no speech should be had in the Parliament touching religion At the sametime the Pope published a Bull bearing date the twentieth of Nouember wherin hee promised a generall Councell for the ordering and determining of matters of religion assigning it to be holden within the towne of Trent vppon Easter day then next ensuing On the other side the Cardinall of Lorraine had giuen order to write and Register the names of all the principail of the religion in euery Prouince throughout France which rolles were made and diliuered vnto him All those that held on the Princes parts and with religion were as then iudged to die thereby to cease all quarrelles and that no more speech might once bee mooued touching the reformation of religion seeing as then the affaires concerning the same were in that estate which those of Guise desired and for the execution of so high and haughtie enterprises as the assembly of the Estates whereby the libertie of France should wholly haue beene ouerthrown the forces of the Realme diuided into foure parts vnder the conducts of the Duke d'Aumale the Marshals of Saint Andre de Brissac and de Termes marched to clear the Prouinces of all suspected persons touching religion to furnish the charges thereof they tooke the third part of all Ecclesiasticall reuenues the Gold and Siluer of Relicques and the Treasures of the Temple with promise that the confiscations should restore it all againe For supply of Souldiers the Pope dispensed with all the Cleargie and promised to furnish them with a great number of men of that calling As touching the extermination of the Princes and Lords they proceeded therein with time and leisure The King of Nauarre was to bee confined vnto the Castle of Leches the Admirall into the great Tower of Bourges with all his children his Nephewes in another Tower within Orleans which after that was called the Admirall hard by that of Saint Aignan prepared for the chiefe Cittizens of the Towne Determination to kil the king of Nanarre marnellously preserued The Marshals of Saint Andre and Brissac beeing arriued at the Court were of aduise that the King of Nauarre should bee slaine without troubling themselues to set a guard to keepe him wherevppon they determined to poyson him at a banquet and then vppon an euening to kill him as hee went from the kings chamber which taking no effect the king was desired to do it and to stabbe him with his Ponyard and so to shedde his owne blood which Gods mercifull prouidence would not permit although it seemed to bee almost vppon the poynt of execution the King hauing the Ponyard readie vnder his Gowne beeing alreadie entered into certaine rough speeches against the King of Nauarre who in presence of those of Guise made him so sufficient and good an aunswere that hee escaped An other pretence was sought to get him to ride abroade to hunt and in hunting to kill him The Constable had not as yet entered into the Lackes but they were minded to constraine him therevnto hauing alreadie sent out commission to laye hands vppon Monsieur d'Anuille his second sonne As touching the Admirall and his two bretheren the declaration by them made specially the Admiral d'Andelot to bee of the religion was cause sufficient to condemne them Meanes vsed to intrap and extirpe all those of the religion Which to effect the king sent commission to all
meete the Spaniards as then comming vnto Rayonne and with them to enter into Bearn The Viscounte d'Orthe Gouernour of Bayonne had commaundement from the King to put the Towne if neede were into the king of Spaines hands thereby to serue him for a passage for his armie to enter into the countie of Nauarre where hee was to wast and destroy all the land and then to proceede with the ouerthrow and vtter extirpation of all the Gentlemen and Lords who in those countries had fauoured the King of Nauarre or the enterprise of Amboise But a great part of those Lords and Gentlemen not minding to sell their skinnes so good cheape raised armes to the number of seuen or eight hundreth horse well mounted with fiue or sixe thousand footmen who were all appoynted so soone as Marshall de Termes should haue past Limoges to inclose him betweene two riuers whereof hee beeing aduertised and remembring Graueling hee retired in all haste vnto Poictiers giuing aduise vnto the Court what had happened vnto him whereat those of Guise beeing abashed and perceiuing the king to waxe weaker and euery day sicker then other determined with desperate minds to kill the king of Nauarre who not long before being aduertised thereof made his complaint vnto the Queen-mother which notwithstanding his enemies would not leaue off but by all means sought to effect it if it had not been for the Cardinall of Tournon that gaue them counsell to stay their enterprise vntill the Constable with his sonnes and Nephewes were come vnto the Court least that by killing the one they should chance to mooue a greater daunger and to stirre those vp that might procure farre greater trouble then the Princes could effect Meane time the king of Nauarre tooke great care to looke vnto himself yet all that he could do would not haue preuailed if his enemies had set vppon him The kings disease increasing more and more thâ—â—uke of Guise beganne to vtter his chollor against the Phisitians the Cardinall sent on Pilgrimages But no man can striue against God and vsed Friers Priests at Parris other places to make processions the king made a solemne promise vnto all the Saints in Picardie specially to our Ladie of Glery as they terme her that if it pleased them to helpe him he would wholly purge his Realme of all those Hereticques But as then began his more ruine and his Feuer still to increase wherat those of Guise being abashed what countenance soeuer they shewed assayed to perswade the Queene-mother that the kings bodie should be kept from buriall after his death vntill such time as they had taken order for their affaires and caused their vniust actions to be allowed by open Parliament to the end that no man might call them to account heereafter But that was vnpossible for that too many people daylie attending when the time would bee at the same time the Vidame de Chartres prisoner in the Bastille hauing beene carried from thence to remaine within his house in Saint Anthonies streete presently vppon his arriuall thither hee fell sicke and died The Bailiffe of Orleans was committed vnto the custodie of his mother in lawe And those of the religion as then were drowned in most ardent prayers teares and fastes thereby to obtaine some ayde and succour at the handes of God against so many imminent daungers that as then hung ouer their heads The Queen-mother establisheth her authoritie to sustaine those of Guise The Queene-mother perceuing her eldest sonne at such extremitie taking counsell with her selfe as also of those of Guise sent for the king of Nauarre willing him to come vnto her Chamber where beeing come and thinking to enter a Gentleman spake vnto him in his eare that at any hand hee should bee carefull not to refuse the Queen whatsoeuer she should demaund otherwise it would cost him his life Beeing entered hee found the Queene to bee accompanied with the Duke of Guise the Cardinall of Lorraine and a Secretarie who with a countenance framed vnto her passion made great complaints and declarations vnto the King of of Nauarre as touching things past discouering her minde likewise concerning things present and to come concluding that her meaning was and so she would haue it that the said king of Nauarre shuld release vnto her all the right and title that he might in any sort pretend or claime vnto the Regencie and gouernment of the king and of the Realme and neuer seeke to enioy require or once desire it and that if the States would giue it him hee should remitte it wholly vnto her and because it should be firmely holden by them shee said hee should confirme it vnto her by writing vnder his hand then her meaning was hee should reconcile himselfe vnto her Cousins of Guise and so deface the opinion by him conceiued against them saying that they ought to leaue all quarrelles and from thencefoorth liue in peace seeing the greatest and woorthiest Lords and Princes of the Land beganne to shew them the way After some excuses and effectuall aunsweres made by the King of Nauarre in the end he yeelded the Regencie vnto the Queene The Regencie of the Realme yeelded to the Queen-mother that he should be Lieftenant for the K. in France to take order for al the Marshal affaires and to receiue the packets which hauing opened and read hee should send theÌ„ vnto her againe and that nothing should be done without the aduise of him and the other Princes of the blood who from thencefoorth should otherwise be respected that done shee caused him to imbrase her Cousins of Guise and mutually on both parts to forget all quarrelles past From which time forwards they all beganne to salute and imbrace each other as if they neuer had beene at mortall strife Reconciliation of those of Guise with the king of Nauarre All this was done before the arriuall of the Constable and his Nephewes Further they caused the sicke king to say vnto the King of Nauarre that of his owne minde and wholly against the willes or consents of those of Guise hee had caused the Prince of Conde to bee committed prisoner asking his counsell and desiring him to beleeue him and for the loue of him and of the Queene his mother to deface and wholly remit all the euill will and opinions that in any sort he might conceiue of them which after serued them to some good end Those of Guise not well assured The feare of those of Guise notwithstanding all that had beene past obtained of the Queen-mother that the guardes of the Gates of Orleans might bee made stronger impeaching the entrie of many persons and commaundements made in paine of death that not any man whatsoeuer should speake vnto the Prince of Conde without expresse licence and commaundement from the Queen-mother or else that hee brought her signer The death of King Francis the second The 14. of December about noone they esteemed the king
to be dead although hee departed not his life till about fiue of the clocke at night not long before his death those of Guise went to shut themselues within their lodgings from whence in 36. houres after they neuer came foorth before such time as that they had a full assurance both from the Queene-mother and also from the king of Nauarre and before that they carried vnto their houses the summe of three or foure score thousand Frankes that rested in the treasor wherevnto no man resisted which made all men suppose that the Queene-mother suffered them to do it the better to maintaine her selfe in time to come A chaunge in the court Assoone as the king was dead the Queene-mother sent for the Constable vnto Estampes in all speed to repaire vnto the Court at his arriuall hee discharged the guard that were placed by those of Guise to keepe the Gates of Orleans the Prince of Conde continued prisoner in Orleans tenne ortwelue daies after the kings death he neuer hauing had the credit once to see him during his imprisonment after that he was sent with a guard vnto Han from whence hee went to Roye there to attend the issue of his proces in other sort then eyther his friendes or enemies once conceiued Deliuery of those of the Religion Those of the religion that had still remained in long continuall prayers in their most secret assemblies for certaine daies beganne to lift vp their heades being all prepared and readie to die if the king had liued but certaine weekes longer The king of Spaines troupes marching towards Bearn were countermanded and so retired without any exploit Monluc that was promised by those of Guise to be made Counte de Armignac and stayed for them in that countrie retired vnto his house as others adherents vnto them which did the like the most secret seruants that those of Guise could haue within the Court presented thēselues with al humilitie vnto the K. of Nauarre The inconstancie of the Court. discouering vnto him the certaintie of those affaires that should haue bin executed against his person But the Queen-mother would not permit that neither then nor at any time after such things should once be spoken of thereby fearing as she said some great trouble that might arise But it fell out cleane contrary for that for want of taking order therin whē time serued it grew to such an issue that both she and her sonnes hauing neuer seen any other thē mischiefs were deep sunck into them that before they died they neuer could find any certaine issue how to auoyde them The Admirall among the rest wheresoeuer hee came glorified the wonderfull workes of God Constancie of the Admarall who at that time had deliuered him out of the hands of his most mortall enemies euen at such time as they thought most to triumph ouer him Those of Guise besought the Queene to make him to bee silent yet he ceased not to offer and also to iustifie thē to be culpable of diuers poynts of treason if it pleased her to permit that iustice might bee giuen accordingly Shee not seeming to hearken therevnto desired him to thinke well of them and from that time to liue in peace assuring him to set good order among them His aunswere was that to shewe a good countenance vnto those that had purchased his death charged his honour procured the confiscation of his goods with the totall ruine and ouerthrow of his house his kinred and friends he could not do it without shewing a double hart which was a thing cleane contrary to his religion and not fitte for any honest man to do yet he remitted the vengeance vnto God that could well do it when hee should see his time seeing men would not permit him to haue iustice Those of Guise desiring not to bee farre from the assembly of the Estates wherein they feared some earnest matter would be propounded against them King Francis that had been so much mooued against those of the religion is buried after their manner caused the bodie of the dead king to bee conuaied by Sansac and la Brosse vnto Saint Denis where without any solemnitie or royall pompe it was buried The Duke of Guise as then great maister and hauing ceased vppon the last receipts of mony not long before the king died with whom hee kept companie in his life was much dispraised and euill thought of by reason of that great fault wherevnto his seruants aunswered that as then hee had no more neede of the kings helpe by whom he had serued his turne so wel but that thencefoorth hee was to looke vnto himselfe and to seeke to eleuate his house Such was the raigne of Francis the second that died at the age of 17. years lacking one month in the 17. month of his raigne the 17. day of his sicknesse and the 17. houre after midnight and because that during the short time of his raigne the seedes of ciuill dissention were sowen and scattered in France which hitherto haue endured for the space of twise seuenteene yeares I thought at large herein to declare all that had passed in this kings time the better to please the Readers mindes Heere endeth the troubles that happened in the raigne of Francis the second Charles the ninth M.D.LX. The Regencie confirmed to the Queen mother FRANCIS the second being dead without issue Charles his third brother succeeded in his place Son to Henry the second the second called Louys dying an infant borne the 27. of Ianuarie 1550. vppon the 20. of December in open Councell where the yong king was brought accompanied with the king of Nauarre and other Princes of the blood with diuers Lords and principall Councellours an order was established for the mannaging of affaires and the Regencie confirmed vnto the Queene The Parliament Two daies after the Estates assembled in a great Hall within Orleans where the Chancellor made an Oration wherin he shewed to what end an assembly in that sort was to be holdē why they had assembled what good would happen therby wholly confuting those that were in doubt to haue them meet painting them out in all their colours After that hee propounded the means to appease all troubles The Chancellors Oration shewing wherein they might relieue both the Estate and religion inclining to a Councell exhorting them on all parts to a perfect vnion and quietnesse of mind lastly he spake of the kings debts which done hee ended his Oration and so for that time the assembly came foorth The next day after certain disputations were holden to know if the Deputies might as then enter into a Councell after the kings death De Rochefort for the Nobilitie whereby it seemed all their Commissions not to bee of any force which beeing decided they beganne with Orations Monsieur de Rochefort speaking for the Nobilitie approoued the Regencie of the Queen-mother complained of the iurisdictions vsurped by the
Clargie of the disorders happened among the Nobilitie and of the wrongs done vnto them set downe the meanes to gouerne the Spiritualtie and to maintaine them within their bounds spake for the comfort of the people specially concerning iustice shewing that the Offices for iustice oght to bee freely giuen iustice reduced to a certaine necessary number of Officers and that the Nobilitie ought not to be secluded from the administration thereof After that he spake touching the disorders vsed in confiscations against seditions besought the King to receiue and maintaine the Nobilitie in their priuiledges and withall presented a request wherein was required the vse of certaine Churches for the Nobilitie de l'Ange for the third Estate that as then made profession of the religion One named l'Ange speaking for the third Estate intreated principally against the ignorance auarice and carelessenesse of the Cleargie thereof inferring that such faults ceasing in them all troubles would soone be ended Iohn Quintin Autunois professor of the ciuill lawe in Parris appoynted to make an Oration for the Cleargie whom the Cardinal of Lorraine had preferred De Quintin for the Cleargie as also for the Nobilitie and third Estate but all in vaine spake much but with much dirision pronouncing nothing but by writing and that with smal grace hauing for his cōtrowlers diuers of the principall Prelates Cardinals of the Realme The summe of his Oration after many and great commendations vttered in the behalfe of the Queene-mother was to shewe the principall causes of the assembly of the Estates not to deale in any thing touching the reformation of religion which cannot erre but rather to solicite and commaund the Ministers of the same duly and truly to execute their charges and not to permitany other religion then that of Rome wherevppon hee made a long inuection against those of the religion such as had desired Churches saying that hee which had beene the messenger and presenter of their request in a manner openly charging the Admiral set right against and face to face with that Orator oght to be holdē declaredan Hereticque against him as be-being one they oght to proceed according to the rigor both of cannō ciuil lawes thereby to roote the mischiefe out of the heart of France Hee compared those of the religion vnto the Arians the Lords that fauored thē to the Traitor Gainas in the time of Arcadius vsed all his eloquence to prooue the antiquitie of the Romish religion and that those of the religion in France were dispersed people and such as sought to induce an Anarchie wholly vnworthie of any support or good intertainment requiring the prohibition of all bookes not allowed by the Doctors of the Sorbonistes concluding therewith to desire that all those of the religion might bee wholly rooted out and extinguished which done hee directed his speech vnto the king and his mother making request for the maintaining of the persons and goods of the Cleargie for their elections for the obseruations of the ancient Cannons for the exemption of Tithes contributions and cotisations wherevppon hee made almost a whole houres worke Lastly hee pleaded without request for the Nobilitie for the third Estate for the gouernment of iustice and to conclude made a long discourse of the institution of a king The next day the Admirall complained vnto the king to the Queen mother of the presumptious ignorance of de Quintin A payment for de Quintin Orator for the Cleargie that had so openly charged him touching the presenting of a request in the behalfe of the religion at Fontainbleau Quiutin excused himselfe vpon the lesson that had been giuen in writing and in his second Orarion denied his first to please the Admirall and not long after died of sorrowe and greefe perceiuing himselfe so well discouered by diuers answeres made vnto his Oration wherein his Apostacie his slaunders and his falsehoodes were fully set downe In the beginning of this yeare the Spiritualtie had commandement from the king to bee at the Councell of Trent and commission likewise was giuen vnto all Iudges and other Officers Order touching religiō that they should presently release both bodies and goods of all such prisoners that then were kept or holden in prison for religion defence beeing made to all men whatsoeuer not to iniurie them nor their religion vppon paine of death The States continued their conference at Orleans where the Cittizens of Orleans were much greened that in the last kings time those of Guise had filled their houses with souldiers that had fedde vpon them at their owne pleasures complaining that the Duke de Nemours held a great number secretly in diuers places to do some suddaine exploit The king of Nauarre and the Constable beeing appeased the Queen-mother caused all that complaint to cease contenting themselues that the Duke disauouched them all There rested yet another stoppe which caused the Parliament to bee reiourned vntill the month of May next after ensuing to be holden at Pontoise The King of Nauarre and the Channcellor desiring the estates to take order that the Kings debts might be paide The breaking vp of the Parliament offering to shewe them a particular rolle thereof The King of Nauarre saying further that if by accounts they founde that he hadde receiued any extraordinary giftes hee woulde freely restore them againe But those of Guise and others that coulde not saye the like did so much that those matters proceeded not any further in question hoping that time would cause them to speake of other things then restitutions Not long after the Prince of Conde recalled vnto the Court came from la Fere The King iustifieth the Prince of Conde to Fontainbleau and the next day after his arriuall entred into counsell vpon the thirteenth of March where in presence of them all the king declared that hee had beene sufficiently certified of his innocency permitting him to make a second declaration thereof at the Court of Parliament in Parris whither not long after the Prince went On the other side the King of Nauarre complained to the Queene-mother touching the Duke of Guise that was preferred both before himselfe and the Constable and proceeded so farre therein that both he and the rest of the Princes of the blood with the Constable and diuers Noblemen The Queen-mother assureth her regency began to prepare themselues to depart out of the Court but she perceiued that to be a blowe wherewith to abate her gouernment by the Cardinall of Tournons meanes shee sent for the Constable commanding him expresly from the King that he should not depart from the Court. Which done she stayed the rest and so brake off that matter to her no small contentment The report of this discontentment beeing spread into diuers places the Deputies for the assembly of the particular states of Parris began to speake therof and earnestly to agree of some order to be taken The particular states of
sitting of the watches they had publike prayers and the ayre sounded with their voyces singing Psalmes Diners Ministers were distributed among the troupes that had charge to continue and procure that good order and at one time were better heard then at an other This Discipline was continued almost two moneths at the end whereof Baugency being taken by assault caused a beginning of disorder from whence proceeded la Picoree or boot-halling which since that time became so common that at this day it seemeth to bee chiefe Prince The Admirall a great enemie to boot-hallers with stood it and punished some of them with great rigor but in sine a great number got the vpper hand The armie of the Triumuirat committed most terrible outrages without any reproofe and all vnder pretence to extirpe the Huguenots How the Prince hindred the dispearsing of his armie After the taking of Baugency the occasion of fighting beeing let slippe the heate of those of the religion beganne to quench the meanes to maintaine Souldiers lessened and some of the Nobilitie beganne to doubt of their iust quarrell wherefore to preuent a total dissipation the Prince tooke counsell to imploye part of the Nobilitie that were with him in the Prouinces where the affaires hung as it were in a ballance so that the Counte de la Rochefoucaut with ceraine troupes marched towards Poicton Xantonge and Angoulmois Monsieur de Soubize was sent to Lyons Iuoy with his Regiment to Bourges d'Andelot for the sucours out of Almaine and Briquemaut into England On the other side the king of Nauarre the Triumuirat led the king with them in their armie being assembled at Chartoes determined to besiege Bourges holdē by those of the religion before it should be fortified and by so great a Towne not aboue two daies iournie from Orleans in their iudgement was a great helpe and furtherance to the Princes affaires they marched towards it and hauing besieged it Bourges yeelded to the Triumuirat it made no such resistance as they expected but was yeelded vnto them by composition for the which cause Iuoy Gouernour therein was neuer after esteemed or once accounted of by reason of an euill opinion conceiued against him They beeing puffed vppe with this suddaine and vnexpected victorie which as they said was as it were an arme cut off from those of the religion they with their armie of twelue thousand foote and three thousand horse were readie to march to besiege Orleans wherein the Prince the Admirall continued but the daunger thereby feared to receiue more great losse besides the shame put them in the heads to besiege Roaue gouerned by Monsieur the Counte de Montgommery Roane taken by the Guise with seuen or eight hundreth olde Souldiers and two companies of Englishmen vnder the conduct of Monsieur Kilgre And vpon that resolution about the end of September they besieged Roane where after diuers assaults they tooke it by force The Towne beeing sacked for the space of three daies there they executed many of the best of the Cittizens And on the other side Death of the King of Nauarre the King of Nauarre was wounded at the siege and died vpon the seuenteenth day of Nouember the towne hauing been taken 3. weeks before The hard vsage of the prisoners of Roane was the cause that in Orleans they proceeded in iustice with Baptiste Sapin Councellour of Parris and the Abbot de Bastines taken going into Spaine that were hanged in Orleans about the beginning of Nouember The ouerthrow of the Armie of Duras Not long after the Prince had news of the ouerthrow of the troupes of Gascon led by Mousieur de Duras so that in mans iudgement there rested no more hope vnto the Prince but onely the Almaine forces of Rutters conducted by Monsieur d'Andelot so that he tooke counsell with the Admirall that if they were intercepted hee would himselfe in person trauell into Almaine with all speede to obtaine new ayde while the Admirall should keepe Orleans But about foure daies after they had newes that their Rutters were within foure daies iournie of Orleans where the Counte de Rochefoucaut arriued with three hundreth Gentlemen The Prince marcheth towards Parris and some of the rest of the troupes of Duras The Prince hauing his forraine ayde was counselled with all speed to march to Parris for to impeach them and thereby to force them to seeke for peace and to send into Normandie for 150000. crownes to giue the Rutters wherevpon he set forward with 8. Peeces both great and small wherwith he met the Rutters hard by Pluuiers which was taken by force from thence he went to Estampes some being of aduise that he should march to Parris with all speed while the alarme was in the Towne But they determined to besiege Corbeil which was so well defended by Causseins Maister of the campe and certaine forces put into it by the Marshall de S. Andre that the Prince left to go towards Parris and at his arriuall there hee had a hotte skirmish giuen him whereof the end was A furious sirmish that the forces that had issued out of the trenches of Parris after some fight were constrained in all haste to saue themselues in their said trenches with some losse to the great astonishing of the Parrisians For the space of seuen or eight daies that the Prince remained incamped at Gentilly Arcueil and Montronge Villages not farre from Parris What was done about Parris many conferences or rather delayes were holden and vsed and the Prince perceiuing that his enemies still increased thought to giue them a canuisado which tooke not effect hauing beene discouered by one of the principall of his armie that left him to go to the Duke de Guise whereof within three daies after hee repented being his brother that had yeeled Bourges the Prince saued himself by a most straunge meanes for that fearing that hee would make them acquainted with the defaults of his armie the next day he dislodged The falt of Monsieur de Genlis The Duke de Guise beeing strengthened by certaine companies out of Gascon and some Spaniards had determined vppon the next day in the morning to giue him battell before hee had leisure to assemble his dispearsed companies So the Prince departed vpon the tenth of December and the thirteenth beeing in the way to Chartres after diuers opinions of his Councell hee resolued to march straight towards Normandie to recouer mony and to meete his forces comming out of England there to diuert the siege of Orleans The sixteenth Galardon a small Towne was forcibly taken by the Prince and the next day he marched towards Dreux and as hee passed ouer a small riuer hard by the Castle of Maintenon an olde woman stepping a good way into the water tooke him by the boote staying him and looking vppon him said Go Prince thou must suffer What happened to the Prince not long before the battell
Villebon Bailiffe of Roan ceased vpon Pont de l'Arche the Baron de Clere took Caudebec the one aboue the other belowe the riuer of Siene Whereby it prooued great discommoditie for the Towne of Roan that by those meanes could get no victualls by water besides the ceasing of the Courts of iustice the staye of trade of merchandise and all sorts of handy workes these discommodities made the Citizens to looke vnto themselues In the beginning of Iune Villebon came with great troupes to besiege Saint Catherins fort where in a fierce skirmish he lost his cornet and fourteene men and they of the fort 8. mē Presētly after him came the Duke de Aumale Saint Catherins Fort besieged gaue an alarme vnto the Towne where presently he lost 25. of his horsemen But for renenge he assayd all means he could to impeach the Towne of Roan from necessary prouisions But not long after it was relieued by Monsieur de Moruilliers sent thither by the Prince from Orleans assisted by Monsieur de Languetot a gentleman of great wisdome The Duke d'Aumale dispersed the Churches of those of the religiō in Hafleur Montuilier and l'Islebonne where he hanged three auncients and three Gentlemen of the Religion And not long after besieged Saint Catherins fort with thirteene Cannons and two coluerins where Monsieur de Languetot had his legge shotte off with a great peece whereof hee died Many skirmishes beeing daylie performed between them till in the end the Duke left the Fort and fledde from thence and within fiue daies after beeing before Ponteau de Mer faining to parley with them within the Towne he surprised them vppon a suddaine and so entered by force where hee vsed all kind of hostilitie specially vppon the Minister named Brionne and the third day after hee besieged and tooke Honfleur The sixe and twentieth of August the Parliament of Roane being at Louniers made a declaration whereby those of the religion in Normandie were declared Traitors permitting all men Declaration of the Parliament of Roane against those of the religion that eyther would or had the meanes to spoyle and ouerrunne them wholly disallowing the edict of Ianuary established the Inquisition of Spaine and appoynted the Duke d'Aumale Lieftenant for the King And by that declaration and sentence this Court of Parliament executed many of the religion commanding all such as would not make profession of the Romish religion to depart out of the Towne of Louuiers within foure and twentie houres after vpon paine of confiscation both of body and goods On the other side they draue all the Friers out of Roane and hauing discouered treason pretended by some of their companions they tooke order therein from thence forward The siege of Roane giuing good eye to those of the Romish religion whereof they thrust out great numbers In August Monsieur de Moruilliers withdrew himselfe from Roane and kept himselfe peaceably within his house and so continued during the warres neuer forsaking the open profession of the religion In the meane time Monsieur de Montgommery was by those of Roane desired to assist them which hee presently did and arriued at Roane vppon the 18. of September within rennedaies after the Towne was summoned to yeelde it selfe vnto the armie of the Triumuirat whose campe wherein were the king the Queen and the king of Nauarre being composed of sixteen thousand foot and two thousand horse besides Rutters and Lansquenets came before the Towne where at their arriuall they had a hotte and fierce skirmish which continued all that day and three daies after successiuely The fixt of October the king armie hauing intelligence from Captaine Louis out of Saint Catherins Saint Catherins fort taken for they surprised it by force wherein they slewe al they found And Louis himselfe ayding the enemie to mount vp was slaine by one of his Souldiers another fort called Montgommery was taken by the like means where the Queene-mother ledde the king beeing but twelue yeares of age to see the dead bodies of the women and made him behold them bathing in their blood The thirteenth of October an assault was giuen vnto the Towne but they within repulsed the enemie where some couragious women bringing meate vnto the souldiers were slaine The next day they gaue another assault at the Rampart of Saint Hilary but were repulsed and for the space of 6. houres that the skirmish indured they lost to the number of eight hundreth of their best souldiers and they within foure or fiue hundreth accounting women and children that were slaine with the Artillerie The same day the king of Nauarre beeing visited by a certaine Lord told him Hurt and death of the King of Nauarre that if hee escaped safely from that siege hee would neuer beare armes againe for that quarrell but the next day he would go see the trenches where by fortune as hee made water he was striken with a Harquebushotte into the shoulder which done hee was borne by certaine Gentlemen to his lodging at Dartenal where the Surgians vsed all the meanes they could to get out the bullet but hauing deferred it ouerlong they could not one of the Phisitians named Vincentius a voluptious man entertained him with sports and companies of Gentlewomē among therest a Gentlewoman named Rouet came to see him which was some meanes to inflame his wound and hauing intelligence that Roane was taken he was borne thither where gouerning not himselfe as his wound and time required it began to growe to further paine and in the end a feuer tooke him wherwith he began to be faint and thē perceiued they had deceiued him Notwithstanding his seruāts had so great credit with him that they caused him to be cōfessed to receiue the Sacrament after the Romish maner The other of his Phisitians called Raphuel being of the religiō vttered many reasons vnto him so farre that he seemed to charge him with sin against the holy Ghost wherevnto hee answered nothing but lay still Not long after the Queen aduertised by his Phisitians that he could not liue being come to see him willed some of his men to read vnto him Shee being departed hee commaunded Raphael to take the Bible and to read the Historie of Iob which beeing done adding therevnto certaine wordes of the iustice and mercie of God the king beeing mooued in spirit lifting vp his hands vnto heauen and with teares in his eyes hee asked mercie of God making a large and ample declaration of his faith protesting that if it pleased God to graunt him life hee would cause the Gospell to bee preached throughout the Realme of France His disease waxing more vehement and Raphael continually attending vppon him hauing made his will hee caused himselfe to bee borne into a boate to go to Saint Maur des Fosses hard by Parris But not long after his entrie into the boate a great cold ceased vppon him and therevppon insued a sweate wherewith hee beganne to talke idly
the liuing treading vppon the dead they vsed great deligence to bring earth fetherbeddes dung and other things whatsoeuer might serue At the same time that assault was giuen by thirtie Ensignes of foote and a Cornet of horse that followed them where the fight was great and fiue times refreshed till seuen of the clocke at night with such furie that powder fayling on both sides they fell to stones rapiers and other hand-blowes in the end the assaylants were constrained to leaue the breach and to retire with great losse An assault fiue times refreshed Notwithstanding Sommeriue beganne another batterie by which means about euening Senas Mounans and other Captaines within the Towne that had lost many souldiers perceluing themselues destitute of munition had no hope of ayde charged with a great number of poore people little experienced in Marshall affaires and considering the forces mindes and insolencies of the assaylants determined to leaue that feeble place and with al speed to saue that remnant of men that were within it wherevppon they got the straight of the Mountaine whereof I spake beeing the onely place whereby they might escape This conclusion was presently disclosed to Sommeriue A meruellous resolution of the Towne to leaue it by one that comming out of the chamber where they determined vppon it went vnto him but the matter beeing debated by Sommeriues Councell that ment to close that passage one named Cental brake off that determination alleadging so many reasons to the contrarie that it was concluded among them that no man should stirre that night out of the campe although that some of the besieged made shew to saue themselues that way but that in the morning they would determine vppon their affaires About eleuen of the clocke at night the besieged beganne to issue forth in the sight of al their enemies that might easilie discry them from two places which commanded the Towne and by the lights that stood in the windowes of the houses marching in order you may well iudge what noyse was made at that departure among the children sicke hurt and olde people and women great with childe and so with all their carriages followed on the way vppon the Mountain al that night not one of Sōmeriues campe once stirring as if those poore people had beene safely guarded vntill morning that Sommeriue caused certaine horse and foote to passe the riuer and to set vppon the backes of them where they found some poore women that stayed behinde whereof some were slaine others brought prisoners but they followed not long after them as well for the difficultie of the way as the couetous desire they had not to leese the spoyle of the Towne wherein Sommeriue durst not enter fearing some treason before tenne of the clocke in the morning They beeing entered into that desolate Towne slewe three or fource hundreth women and children without any respect of age or religion taking that small bootie which they could finde Sommeriue entereth into Cisteron If the issuing of those of Cisteron was meruellous so was their voyage vppon the Mountaines which continued for the space of three weekes in the which time they escaped an infinit number of dangers vntil the seuē a twentieth of September that they ariued in good safetie at Grenoble singing Psalmes and thansgiuings vnto God for their miraculous deliuerie knowing nothing of what had passed the same day in other places as at Saint Gilles The battell of S. Gilles Scafold of the Prouenceal murthers where there enemies were wholly ouerthowne and almost all slaine as wee shewed in the discourse of Languedoc From Grenoble they were safely conducted vnto Lyons and charitably ayded in their necessities vntill the edict of pacification After the taking of Cisteron and the ouerthrow of the Prouenceals at Saint Gilles Sommeriue continued Maister of the Prouence continuing the battell massacres and great insolencies begunne before and yet without impunitie The principall heads of the horrible confusion that raigned therein vntill and after the edict of peace beeing Carces Mentin and Flassans prouoked by certaine of the Parliament of Aix as Bagarris Chesne Saint Margaret and others that ruled all the rest and that in steede of obeying the edict of pacification durst conclude say that those of the religion should not haue any exercise that such as during the troubles had beene their Leaders or hauing had any office Straunge iniustice absented thēselues should not be receiued nor entertained and that the wars still be followed that there should a stay be made of the punishments of offenders that had committed so great insolencies during the troubles although the womē with childe had bin ript open the yong childrē murthered many buried quicke others hewed in peeces burnt throwne downe headlong their throates cut like sheep drawne through the streetes and then harquebused beaten downe with clubbes and wounded in diuers places In this sort those good iudges executed so manie insolencies that the kings Councell after the edict of pacification was forced to send the President de Morsan with certaine numbers of Councellors from Parris to Prouence which did such execution vppon some boot-hallers and other insolent persons that from thence forward Sound instice done vppon the offenders although their weapons were many times in hand Prouence neuer mutined in such sort as it did during those first troubles Morsan and his companions were determined to haue done iustice without exception but the multitude of offenders the qualities of some of them the credite of others and the maruelous practises of Carces and the Parliament of Aix hindered those Iustices to doo as they pretended In the end by the solicitation of Carces the king released diuers of them whereof their processe was alreadie made and that had well deserued to bee put to cruell death Now must we say something of the Duchie of Bourgongne Bourgongne The Parliament of Dyon did so much that by letters of the first of March 1562. commandement was sent by the king to Monsieur de Tauanes his Lieftenant in the absence of the Duke d'Aumale of the house of Guise not to permit any preaching at Dyon not in the Frontier-townes so that whatsoeuer letters and commissions those of the religion obtained after that would serue to no effect as long as the Court of Parliament resited The eight of May Beaune those of Beaune were wholly bereaued of the exercise of the religion and within foure daies after their three Ministers imprisoned which done the Artificers and others were driuen out of the Towne to the number of seuen or eight hundreth with women and children Ventoux Captaine of the Towne filled their emptie houses with souldiers wherein they vsed great disorders such as were found therin being vilely abused and so much detested that they durst not shewe themselues in the streetes which reduced them to extreame necessities their kinsmen and friendes not daring to relieue them The fines imposed vppon
eleuen months and certaine daies Their discommodities because of their passage ouer the Loir The next day they were followed by the children of the Admirall and Monsieur d'Andelot who hatting trauersed the riuer of Loire in Berry met with the horsemen that conducted them At which time happened a straunge thing for the Prince making his account suddainly to passe ouer in an vnaccustomed place with two or three small boates hired for the purpose being come to the riuer not farre from Sancerre his men found a shallowe foord which he past ouer followed by fiftie horse the Princesse her women children and seruants passed ouer in the boates but they were scarce gotten out when suddainly the day beeing cleare and faire the riuer rose in such sort that they of Sancerie other Inhabitants of those countries were constrained to acknowledge a particular fauour of God shewed to that small troupe which had beene preuented if the Prince had deferred his passage but two houres longer Beeing ouer he dispatched messengers Monsieur d'Andelot into Brittaine desiring him to raise all the men hee could and to march towards Poitou The Queene those of Guise and their Councellours vnderstanding that the Prince and the Admiral were escaped greeued that they had no sooner sent Tauannes their Deputie in that action beganne to send commissions into all parts appoynting their troupes to meete in Poitou and Cuyenne while the Duke d'Aniou Generall of the armie tooke his leaue of the Ladies in the Court and that preparation was made for his departure It fell out well for the Prince and the Admirall that they were not speedily pursued and that they had such aduersaries who for the first weeke of their retrait contented themselues to laugh and iest saying that the Prince had no neede to make such haste to bee gone for that their meaning was not to hurt him But his aunswere to such as tolde him of it beeing vppon the way was that hee had rather leaue them the emptienests then they should take the birds and if that hee had well thought vppon the promise made by them to be reuenged for their flight from Meaux and to make those of the religion runne their towne he had departed in a better time that he might haue trauelled with ease The collor of the Queen her children their adherents Catholicques at the beginning of these wars discharged it selfe vpon diuers particular persons of the religion Hard vsage of those of the religion who in Orleans and other places were pilled sacked and cruelly put to death The Prince arriued in Rochel vpon the 19. of September hauing in his way certified those that commaunded in the Townes and Prouinces where hee past that hee ment not to vndertake any warre but onely to stay for an answere to the petitions by him sent vnto the king the Gentlemen of high base Poitou not long after assembled themselues to ioyne with him at the same time the Cardinall de Chastillon was constrained to leaue Beauuaisin yet so swiftly followed to the sea side that being constrained to leaue his company he entred into a ship that bare him safely into England The Queene of Nanarre Retrait of the Cardinal de Chastâ—lion and of the Queene of Nauarre and her children taking with her the Prince her sonne and the Princesse her daughter went likewise to Rochel so to auoyde the pretences and intents of her enemies against her and hers Descars and Monluc that commanded at Perigord Limosin and Guyenne vsed all the means they could to hinder her but the troupes that conducted her hauing three Regements of foote and eight Corners of light-horse assured her way wherevppon shee certified the king the Queene the Duke of Aniou and the Cardinall of Bourbon of the causes of her voyage The deportements of the Prince at Rochel Immediately vpon the Princes arriuall at Rochel where his brother the Counte of Roche foucaud was come a little before he assembled the Citizens and vnto them represented the miserable estate of the realm requiring their succours in defence of religion the Common-wealth and the Crowne of France Withall promising particularly to assist them against al such as sought the oppression of their liues and liberties The Maior in the behalfe of all the Cittizens whose affaires hee commended vnto him offered him their liues and goods as also the eight and twentieth of September following hee did to the Prince of Nauarre as well inregard of his Lieftenancie in Guyen as also in hope that hee should inherite his Parents not onely in lands and liuings but also in the loue and fauour that they alwaies had borne to the Rochelers whereof hee assured them The Lord d'Andelot the foure and twentieth of September The aduentures of the Lord d'Andelot in comming to ioyne with the Prince entered the confines of Brittaine and Maue with foure Cornets one company of Argoletiers and foure Ensignes of footemen where hee found many other leaders so that his whole companie amounted vnto a thousand good horse and two thousand harquebusiers With these troupes Andelot coasted towards Loyre to finde some commodious passage whereby to ioyne with the Prince The same day that he gat to the riuers side and within two houres after that his men had taken vp their lodgings in the scattered villages the Duke Martiques Gouernour of Brittaine going towards Saumur to the Duke of Montpensier had intelligence that sundrie troupes of enemies not naming who had taken vp their lodging in his way Hee had but three hundreth launces and fiue hundreth braue Harquebusiers with whom he passed couragiously through all d'Andelots troupes who in regard they lay scattered were not able either to defeat him or to force him to retire so that hauing marched eight leagues and had sundrie skirmishes by the shutting of the night hee gat to Saumur hee and his men with the losse of some twentie men among others of his Lieftenants but by the way slewe fouretimes as many and carried away an Ensigne This was the fruite of his close orderly march togither with his resolution worthie a graue wary leader neither could this surprise or abridge d'Andelot of his hope to passe ouer the riuer of Loire for hauing reassembled his forces into two troupes hee caused the riuer to bee gauged all ouer so that at the last hee found a foord where neuer any man in our memorie had passed there did hee and his with great joy for this vnexspected good hap passe the riuer the next day Before this foord was found as the Lord de la Noue demaunded in case the passage were stopped what they were best to resolue vpon What shuld we do said he but follow an extreame resolution either to die as souldiers or to saue our selues as souldiers A braue resolution in necessitie adding moreouer I thinke it best for vs to ioyne togither and so to retire some seuen or eight leagues into the open countrie thence to scatter
time was Captaine Minguetiere sent away with a shippe well fraught and a Portingall an excellent Seaman Sundrie practises to discouer the landing places about Perou and to espie some meanes to molest the Spaniard But withall giuing notice of his voyage hee was followed and set vpon neare the Isle of Hispaniola where his men were slaine and himselfe put to the Gallies The Admirall himselfe was set on worke with the practising of a league with the Germaine Princes and the Duke of Florence was solicited to lend money to prosecute the warres in Flaunders for the which Saucourt Ienlis and la Noue leuied souldiers In the beginning of May the king desired the Queene of Nauarre to go to Parris there to prouide for all things necessarie for the marriage Where shee arriued the fifteenth day of the same moonth and the fourth of Iune fell sicke of a feuer proceeding as some sayde from her lights where of long time certaine impostumes had bredde which beeing mooued and stirred by great heates and by an extraordinarie trauell which shee alwaies tooke while shee was in health inflamed and bredde that feuer Death of the Queene of Nauarre whereof she died within fiue daies after to the great sorrow and extreame griefe of all her seruants Three daies after she fell sicke beeing in perfect memorie shee made a most christian testament and last will dying with the witnesse and testimonie of singular pietie and ioy in God She was a Princesse of great experience both by many aduersities wherein she shewed an inuincible constancie and heroicall greatnesse of courage most affectionate to her religion very careful of the bringing vp of her children in the feare of God charitable towards them whom shee often aduertised of their duties in words most graue and full of motherly affection she had a readie wit and well aduised but indowed with great zeale and integritie pittifull and easie to bee perswaded no offender could auoyde her censure shee opposed her selfe against vices and liberally maintained that which shee iudged to bee good and conformable to the will and pleasure of God Prosperitie hindered her her mind much giuen to pleasant conceits being of a leane complexion and very agreeable with her ingeniositie hauing great viuacite to comprehend all things and grace liuely to represent them by writing or word of mouth with a iesture of all the bodie and a countenance well liked of all men shee died in the foure and fortieth yeare of her age vppon the ninth of Iune Some say shee was poysoned by the smell of certaine perfumes and to bereaue men of that opinion shee was opened and curiously visited by learned Doctors and Surgions that found all her noblests parts to bee very faire and whole onely the lights perished on the right side wherein had ingendered an extraordinary hardnesse and a great impostume a disease which they all so farre as lay in man iudged to bee the cause of her death They were not commaunded to open her braine where the mischiefe lay by which means they could not giue aduise but vppon the outward apparance Certaine daies after the king desired his brother in law the king of Nauarre to go to Parris there to solemnize his marriage as it had beene agreed betweene them While that at Blandie in Brie preparation was made for the marriage of the Prince of Conde that married his wife in the beginning of the moneth of August The Admirall at that time lay in his house of Chastillon sur Loing where hee receiued many letters and messages from the king The Admirall commeth to Parris and because he stirred not the king sent Cauagnes and Briquemaud to fetch him to determine vppon the wars of Flaunders and special commandement was giuen to the Prouost of Merchants in Parris other the chief mē to take order that not any noise nor rumor should be vsed or raised at the Admirals ariuall in the town who beeing prouoked by so many men and desirous to bannish warres out of France measuring the kings thoughts by his owne resolued to ride to Parris without staying at the many and diuers aduertisments of his seruants and other honourable persons most affected to his preseruation that both within and without the Realme desired him that seeing he could not conceiue any sinister opinion of the king Confidence of the Admirall his mother and the rest that at the least he would consider into what place he went about to thrust himselfe and among so many enemies but hee resting vppon the testimonie of a good conscience and the prouidence of God remitting those aduises as if they proceeded from men couetous and desirous of new troubles which hee abhorred woorse then death went with a small company and beeing in Parris to the great astonishing of all the towne was honourably receiued by the king his bretheren the Queene-mother and others A little before la Noue Saucourt and Ienlis accompanying Countie Lodowic into Flaunders had from the king receiued commission to finde means to surprise some frontier towne on the other side the Duke of Alue had intelligence of euery steppe that Countie Lodowic set which notwithstanding such was his diligence that hee seized vpon Monts in Hainaut Wherewith the Duke was so nettled that hee said that the Queene-mother had sent him the flowers of Florence but hee would returne her Spanish Thistles with many other threats which vppon particular aduice of the course of their affaires namely of Ienlis returne of his licence to leuie men for the succour of Monts of the time of their departure and of the course of their iourney were soone quenched The seuenth of Iuly the King published a proclamation tending to the impeachment of all quarrels as well in Parris as in his Court and commanded all straungers and men that had nothing to do within the Towne The Princes come to Parris to depart from thence After the arriuall of the Admirall at Parris so many letters and messengers were sent vnto the Princes that in fine they came thither almost at the same time that the king arriued who had before lingered thereabout Many Lords and Gentlemen of the religion accompanied the king of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde whom in manner all the Court went to meete Further vnder pretence of the warres in Flaunders the king at the same time sent for other Lords and Gentlemen of the religion who otherwise would haue stayed in their houses Ienlis marched not into Flaunders notwithstanding hee were solicited thereto besides the solemnization of this marriage royall was for a time deferred by reason of the scruples doubts made by the Cardinall of Bourbon to celebrate the same without a dispence from the Hope that would bee prayed and intreated therevnto and in the end graunt a dispence but because it was not ample ynough to the Cardinalles minde counselled by men subtiller then himselfe they were forced to send to Rome againe Great was the expectation of
was done onely to preuent the execution of a cursed conspiracie practised by the Admirall and his confederates against him his mother and bretheren and therefore commaunded that his Edict of pacification should bee most firmly obserued But if it should fall out that any Huguenors incensed with the newes of Parris should gather in armes in any place whatsoeuer hee commaunded his said Gouernours to assist the scattering and dispearsing of them Also to the end the studious of nouelties should not commit any sinister practise his meaning was to haue the gates of all his Towns wel diligently kept referring therest of his minde to the credite of the bearers According to the purport heereof at Meaux in Brie Trois in Champagne Orleans Bourges la Charite Lyons Thoulouse and Bourdeaux those of the religion were handled as they were in Parris not speaking of those that were sacked in other Townes and Villages of the Realme as also in the fields when they thought to saue themselues by going out of the Realme so that in fewe weeks aboue thirtie thousand persons were massacred in France because of the religion The king aduoweth the massacre to be done by his commandement but specifieth no cause why the next day writeth contrarie letters Vpon Tuesday the six and twentieth day of August the king accompanied with his bretheren and the chiefest of his Court went to his Court of Parliament where sitting vpon his bed of iustice all the chambers assembled hee declared in expresse termes that whatsoeuer had happened in Parris had been done not onely by his consent but also by his commandement and of his owne motion and therefore that his meaning was that all should bee attributed to himselfe All which his speech was approoued and allowed by Christopher de Thou chiefe President in the name of the whole companie The next day letters were sent to the Sheriffes and other the kings officers in the Townes giuing them to vnderstand that to his great greefe his Cousin the Admirall and others his partakers besides sundrie particular parties in sundrie parts of Parris had beene slaine whereof hee thought good to giue them notice to the end they might represse all commotion and murther which might breed his incredible greefe and sorrow enioyning them in his name to make proclamation commanding euery man to remaine at home not to take armes nor any to offend other vnder paine of death also to take order that his Edict of peace were well and diligently obserued Thursday the twentieth in Parris was celebrated an extraordinary Iubile with generall procession wherein the king was assistant and whereto hee had but in vaine solicited the king of Nauarre with sweet words and flattering speeches and the Prince of Conde with threats The kings new declaration The same day hee made an other declaration importing that by his own expresse commandement the Admirall with his adherents and confederates had beene slaine not vpon any cause of religion or breach of his Edicts of pacification which hee alwaies had and still ment to haue obserued kept and continued but thereby to preuent the execution of a damnable conspiracie contriued by the Admirall the chiefe deuiser thereof and his adherents and confederates against the said king his estate the Queene his mother his bretheren the king of Nauarre and other Lords and Princes his attendants Withall that hee tooke into his protection all other the protestants but forbad them all assemblies or preachings vpon whatsoeuer occasions To this declaration were there soone after added sundrie restrictions qualifications and amplifications Such of the protestants as in sundrie places relyed vpon them had but bad successe The wiser sort ffed out of the realm which notwithstanding their goods were seized their mooueables partly solde to the most giuer and partly stolen and their immooueables put to the crie There was a long Commentarie made and added to the same declaration by one Gui de Fuur Lord of Pibrac as it was auouched before that of religion who durst affirme that witnesses had been examined before the kings Councell Commentaries vpon this matter that affirmed a conspiracie made by the Admirall not naming who neither yet specifying any circumstance of apparance of trueth for the which cause certaine sharpe aunsweres were made therevnto wherein all the cauillations of the said Commentarie were amply and particularly resuted Within Parris it selfe all men that had any wit or vnderstanding in their common and ordinarie talke touching this horrible cruell iniustice said that there was neither shaddowe nor any apparance of trueth in this accusation and to thinke to make men of any iudgement to beleeue that the Admirall had wrought any thing against the king and his adherents being within Parris Defence made in the Admirals behalfe were vaine it beeing a thing which all men knowes that in the Court there is an ordinarie guard of Gascons Switzers and Scots both for day and night besides the other companies specially then when the most part of the Princes Lords and Gentlemen of France were there to honour the marriage that in lesse then three houres within Parris they may assemble and gather at the least sixtie thousand men well armed who at the first word had deuoured the Admirall and all his friends and if they had been sixe times as many more that the Lords and Gentlemen that had accompanied the king of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde bringing thither their wiues seruaunts and kinsmen brought but their swords and thought but to run at the ring and to shew their braue apparrell That the declaration did neither specifie the time place adherents nor meanes of this coniuration Before the Admirall was hurt as he receiued all fauour of the king so he held and accounted him for one of his most faithfull seruants whereof the Admirall made proofes with all sinceritie Being come to Parris vppon the word and iterated commandements of the king where no man liuing euer vnderstood other thing from his mouth what aduise soeuer was giuen him to issue out of Parris because he was hated euill willed and inuironed with enemies but onely that hee trusted in the faith and promise of his Prince that heedemaunded nothing but peace wherevnto he perceiued the king to bee inclined and to lay the war vpon the shoulders of the hereditarie enemie of France which is the Spaniard if this conspiracie had been made after hee was hurt how durst a mā being cruelly wounded with two dangerous wounds about Fryday at tenne of the clocke and flaine vppon Sunday at two of the clocke in the morning of great yeares troubled in both his armes whereof one the Surgeans were in counsell to cut off accompanied with three hundreth Gentlemen vnarmed all naturall Frenchmen most affected seruants to the King hauing neither goods parentage alliance pleasure nor contentment with their families but in France bee so bolde or could set vppon sixtie thousand men prepared to fight Nay were it onely
against the Priests and Fryers of Parris ayded by their seruants onely with fagget-sticks in their hands or how could hee haue leisure in so short a time or would haue bin so mad with his adherents vnwise onely in this that they trusted the kings word and beleeued not the aduice of those that counselled them not to put themselues into the Lyons clawes that watched for them vnder that great hedge to consult vpon an action so important execrable and of the greatest consequence that possible may bee Besides this after he was wounded the Phisitians and Surgeans had inioyned him silence and all the Councels holden in his chamber tended resolutely to expect iustice to be done vppon those that had hurt him as the King and the Queen-mother had sworne and promised The King of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde were alwaies at those Councels and to conspire against the King was as much as if they had soght to stab thēselues to stain their house with the most detestable ignomie that could bee deuised And to be short it is as much as if they should transforme the Admirall and his friends into brute beasts as to attribute such consultations vnto them in such a time and place and against so many good Frenchmen and againe if he were suspected of such a crime was it not in the kings power seeing so many armed men about his lodging held him inclosed and at the first word could haue seized vpon him to cause him to bee poysoned presently vppon the suspition without daunger of tumult by those of the religion whose weaknesse was well knowne at the time of the massacre The number of those that were termed adherents to the Admirall beeing nothing in comparison of the murtherers and of women maides and yong children cruelly massacred that neither knew where the Admirall lay nor yet what hee said◠holding him prisoner they might without resistance or daunger haue made information and so haue proceeded against him according to the lawes of all Nations ... If there were witnesses they might haue maintained and affirmed their depositions before the Admirall and his adherents which by Pitrac is written to haue beene reported to the king further if it should bee so that the Admirall and his adherents after his hurt did vtter any angrie speeches hauing knowne the cause he might haue contented himselfe with his owne house and familie and not in a tumult and barbarous furie by sound of bell to mooue the people to assemble all the Towne hee ought to haue hindred the massacre of so many Ladies and yong Gentlewomen and of so many Gentlemen wise learned and reuerent olde men of so many little children that conspired not but against their mothers breasts or else to get out of the wombes It may bee asked of the Councellours of this inhumane iustice why so many women great with childe and halfe dead were thrown into the riuer wherin so many thousands of honorable innocent persons were massacred without inquisitiō cōdemnation forme or figure of processe which is more if the Adm. had neuer so litle attempted against the person or life of the K. and his two bretheren who is he that knoweth not that al the Prouinces towns to be short al sorts of people of all estates would speedily haue taken weapon in hand in a moment without difficultie had put the culpable and all his adherents to the swoord with all strange motiōs wold both approoue allow as most expedient and necessarie And touching the king of Nauarre euery man detested the imposture of the declaration Was he not in the Admirals hands for the space of foure yeares did hee not professe the like religion who is ignorant of the humble and sincere respect which the Admirall bare vnto this Prince and the great affection hee shewed vnto the Admirall could those of the religion get any thing by the death of the king of Nauarre was hee not loued as well of the Catholicques as those of the religion Could the Admiral hope for a Prince more fauourable then hee or that could better reuenge the outrage that had been done vnto him Other circumstances touhing the massacre Now let vs returne to other circumstances and the course of our Historie By an other declaration of the 30. day of August the king gaue to vnderstand to the Gouernours of his Prouinces that the Admirall and Gentlemen of the religion that were with him in Parris without expecting the iustice that he had promised to execute vpon the wonder of the Admirall had conspired against his Maiestie his mother his bretheren the king of Nauarre and other the Lords and Princes about them and against the estate yea that some of the chiefest and adherents to the conspiracie acknowledging their fault had confessed it These principall adherent confessors hee nameth not as indeed there were none vnlesse he meanes Bouchauanes of Picardie who vppon Saturday had been present at one of the consultations wherein the Vidame of Chartres the second time with vehement speeches in the pesence of the K. of Nauarre the Prince of Conde and many others had vrged the remooue of the Admiral out of Parris wishing his friends and familiars to follow after as hourely discouering many things that put him in more doubt Hee was in manner the onely man that was of that opinion for the rest they stood vppon it that so they should doo the king wrong in that they should call into question his faith and sincere meaning that it might suffice quietly and modestly to craue iustice at his hands that the matter was yet fresh and therefore it might bee feared least the king should bee offended if they proceeded so hotly Other report could not Bouchananes make in honour or with a safe conscience Concerning Briquemant and Cauagues whom they ment to vse wee will speake heereafter Onely I will heere adde one note taken out of the seuenth booke of the remembrances of Monluc one of the Marshals of France and a sworne enemie to the Protestants He speaking of the murthers saith Albeit I was then Maister onely of my owne house Monlucs testimonie yet the Queene did me that honour to write vnto me and to send me word that they had discouered a great cōspiracie against the king and his estate I wot what I beleeued but it is not good to anger a mans Maister The king neuer forget the chase that the Admirall gaue him from Meaux to Parris swifter then ordinarie Wee forget our selues when wee come to the pinch and neuer thinke that kings haue greater stomacks then wee and withall that they can sooner forget a good peece of seruice then any offence These bee Moulucs words who a little before had said that the Admiral was vnwise to thrust himselfe into Parris to the end to make the world to thinke that he ruled all I wonder how a man so wise polliticke in worldly matters could commit such a grosse ouersight But
three of his houshold seruants gaue him fiue woundes with their swoords in his bedde carried away his horses and best stuffe which the next day they sold to the most giuer in a village where Captaine Saint Stephen was lodged This scandall troubled the Rochelers who ended it thus That Stephen and Guymeniere should depart from Rochel Besides the aunswere expresly giuen to Biron the Rochelers by seueral letters did greatly excuse thēselues of this mishap which fell out without their notice and to the great griefe of their Deputie beseeching him as also they did du Vigean not to impute vnto them such an action whereto they had giuen neither counsell nor consent but were wonderfully sorrie that Vigean should bee so wronged at his returne from his Ambassage Many misliked that Vigean a Gentleman of the religion and a man of calling should take vpon him such a commission but his reward caused him to bee afterward better aduised Now the Rochelers beeing diuersly aduertised that shortly they should see an armie before their walles also that their Towne was the marke whereat their enemies aymed gaue a new onset vppon the Countrie of Montgommery the Vidame of Chartres and other Noble men fledde into England to craue some succour at their hands Their Deputies set saile in the euening the fiue and twentieth day of October Thus was it open warre for so many as were known to be Rochelers were euery where taken prisoners and put to their ransome all vessels sayling towards their hauen stayed all marchandize found to belong to any Rocheler seized and confiscate to bee short all actions of hostilitie put in practise against them Neither were the Sancerreans at that time much quieter for Cadaillet one of the Groomes of the chamber and the kings Hunter sometimes seruant to the Earle of Sancerre a man well knowne in the Towne was sent to confer with them Hee played the cunning Courtier setting debate among them that before were good friends wherof ensued a tumult whilest one would grant and an other would denie the comming in of the Lord of Fontaines who was sent to roote out the protestants Hereof grew murther and confusion wherof wee will speake heereafter For the aduancement of the Bishop of Valence Negotiation in Poland where the French name was miserably rent in peeces and to cut off the deuises of the protestants both within and without the Realme Diuers deuises to extirpe those of the religion and to roote out their memorie The king was perswaded that it would bee good to take some of them that were found to haue escaped the massacre and as then kept in prison and to make processe against them in forme of iustice and to put to the torture some of those that had escaped the massacre and beeing fetched out of their corners had beene committed to prison that they might be condemned by sentence of certaine Iudges appoynted for the purpose and so executed in the presence of the people and to the same to adde a sentence against the Admirall of whose bodie taken away as I said before they should make a similitude or image which the executioner should drawe along the streetes and then hang it on the Gibbet Then that there might bee published the kings letters pattents wherein it should bee decreed that the protestants should bee preserued both in body and goods and suffered to liue in all libertie of conscience so to allure them peaceably by this declaration that afterward they might speede as the rest besides to publish many bookes in excuse of all that was past and the same to dispearse in all places especially in Poland and Almaine and withall to charge the Ambassadours in England Suizerland and other forraine countries to iustifie the king and the Romish Catholicques All this was diligently put in execution Notable persons executed vnder colour of iustice Touching the first poynt Briquemant the father a Gentleman of the age of seuentie yeares one that had valiantly imployed himselfe in the seruice of the kings of France hauing beene found in the house of the Ambassadour of England wherein hee had saued himselfe while the greatest furies of the massacre were executed was put in close prison with Cauagnes Maister of the Requests These two bare great affection both vnto the religion and the Admirall and otherwise were of great reputation in France they were threatned to be torne in peeces vppon the racke if they would not write and signe with their hands that they had conspired with the Admirall to kill the king his bretheren the Queene and the king of Nauarre but they hauing constantly refused to auouch so horrible a lye against their innocencies and themselues they were racked and cruelly tormented by sentence of the Court of Parliament in Parris dated the seuen and twentieth of October were declared guiltie of treason and condemned to be hanged vpon a Gibbot which was executed The Queen-mother leading the king her two other sonnes and the king of Nauarre her sonne in lawe to see the execution Her Councellours thinking that at that last exployt it would bee wrought if Briquemaut in presence of all the people would aske pardon of the king sending some vnto him to certifie him that so hee might easily saue his life that the king was mercifull and that hee should haue pardon if hee asked it confessing this fact wherewith hee was charged Briquemaut aunswered boldly and with a good courage that it belonged not vnto him but to the king to aske pardon of God for such an offence that he wold neuer aske pardon for a fault wherin hee had not offended but knew himselfe to bee innocent whereof hee called God to witnesse desiring him to pardon the kings so great disloyaltie Cauagnes did the like vntill hee died in such sort that this execution serued to no other ende but more to publish theiniquitie of so many pernicious councels Asnare discouered and anoyded With these two notable persons they hung a man of haye made like the Admirall against whom also was pronounced a smal sentence of death Touching the declarations in fauour of those of the religion the Duke of Guise discouered the snare so that fewe of them were taken For that by letters sent by his mother the same day that Briquemaut was executed shee wrote vnto him that the king had the said day determined with his Councell wholly to roote out those of the religion whom hee termed seditious vermine not sparing the children nor straungers that had giuen them ayde therein discouering enterprises against the Prince of Orenge and others which vanished like smoke Among the Ambassadours that excused the king Monluc was one the easiler to aduance his affaires of Polonia whereof we meane not to recite any particularities as not pertaining properly to our intent The beginning of open war against the Sancerrans Yee heard before how Cadaillet had sowen diuision among the Sancerreans now shall you see the haruest of that graine
fauor his retire from the Court Others bearing him no great affection spred foorth a rumour that they were in armes prepared to kill the king the Queene and his Councell The first aduise tooke place neuerthelesse to make the latter seeme likely yet vntrue euery man except it were the king Praclises of the Court whereinto sundrie not able to penetrate at the first the gentry of Normandy found themselues deceined whereof ensued the destruction of the Countie of Montgommery perswaded to stay with his traine in great haste dislodging from Saint Germains where they stayed till the lodgings of the Castle of Blois Saint Vincennes were prepared and rid to Parris from nine of the clock till midnight with most great noyse and tumult I must tell you that the Duke of Alencon was in minde to haue departed from the Court and to take the king of Nauarre with him and that this troupe composed of the Gentlemen their seruants came to bring them to the places appointed by them but imagining many difficulties in the executiō hee tooke aduise of la Mole a Gentleman of Prouence that gouerned him who gaue him counsell with al speed to aduerise the king his brother and his mother what his meaning was which was the cause that the king remooued not neuerthelèsse the mother that had som greater matter in her head made that voyage by night and went to the house of the Marshall de Retz in the subburbs of S. Honore The Parisians beleeuing whatsoeuer was told them touching those horses in short time made a great and puissant armie as they said The next day the king went vnto his mother and within eight daies after they went to Blois Saint Vincennes hauing holden diuers councels to deuise the means to intrap the Marshal d'Anuille that gaue them worke to do in Languedoc Meane time the Duke of Alencon and the king of Mauarre vppon the foure and twentieth of March published a declaration touching the matter of Saint Germains protesting their good wils towards the king and that they were resolued to oppose themselues with all their meanes against such as would rebell against him which was an occasion to bring the Marshall de Montmorencic vnto the Court who being come was arested as also the Marshall de Cosse and both most shamefully led prisoners to the Bastille On the other side la Mole Coconnas Tourtay seruants to the Duke of Alencon were committed within Parris and not long after executed hauing onely confessed to haue been of their Maisters counsell to depart out of the Court Diuers Lords and Gentlemen intangled in this processe saued themselues as well as they could the Duke of Alencon and the king of Nauarre were kept more straight and twise examined touching that action The estate of Dauphine Languedoc and poictou These troubles in the Court hindered not those of the religion their associates to looke vnto themselues In Dauphine Mombrun tooke Loriol Linron Alet Graue and Roinac and ouerthrew fiue companies of footmen that sought to impeach them Those of Villeneufue in Viuarais not long before had put certaine troupes to the swood that came against those of the religion without losse of one man and tooke Aubenas a Towne of great importance hauing cut the throates of all the Garrison for the most part composed of the massacres of Lyons The gouernment of Languedoc and Dauphine hauing bin committed to the Prince d'Auphine Monsieur d'Acier ioyned with him the Marshall d'Anuille by letters intercepted discouered what was pretended against him by which meanes hee beganne to draw to those of the religion consulting with Saint Romaine Gouernour of Nismes seized vppon Montpeslier Beaucaire Lunel and Pezenas In Poistou the Polititians ioyned with la Noue tooke Saint Maixaut Melle Fontenay Lusignan and other places In Normandie about the beginning of March What happened in Normandie to the Countie de Montgommery taken prisoner and after executed the Countie Montgommery accompanied with Lorges and Galardon his children departed from the Isle of Gerze and arriued at Rades where Colombieres de Fey with fistie Gentlemen came to meete him from whence hee went to Saint Lo and then with in three daies after assieged and took Carentan by compositiō Within a month after a strong armie of the enemie commaunded by Matignon and Feruaques set vppon him and inclosed him with a little weake towne and ill furnished called Danfrone accompanied with sixtie horse and eight harguebuziers conducted by Captaine la Touche the younger resoluing vppon a valiant defence euen in the beginning of the siege sent foorth siue and twentie horse and some small shot who giuing a sharpe onset slew seuen Gentlemen assaylants and nine horse and soretired with the losse of the Lord of Friaize who was slaine and two prisoners that they left behinde This was the eleuenth of May. The next day the besieged cut in peeces one Corps de garde but soone after some either for feare or won with faire woords forsooke the Countie and yeelded to the assaylants who in reward stripped and put them to their ransome The Queen-mother vnderstanding that the Countie whom shee hated to the death was in her nettes sent forces day and night to strengthen Matignon as also the armie that lay before Saint Lo was commanded with all speed to march to Danfrone where they had in the beginning of the siege six thousand small shot and fifteen hundreth horse The king being very sicke vpon the 23. of May the Castle was battered with six peeces of cannon that in fiue houres shot aboue fiue hundreth times and made a breach of fiue and fortie foote broad Then did most of the Counties men forsake him and in liew of entring the Castle with him fled out of the Towne into the campe where they receiued their deserued entailment as their former companions About two of the clock at after noone the assay lants came fiercely to the breach where they found the Countie on the right side with the lords of Brossay Chauuiny Cornieres Tere yong Touche Mahiliere Crosse Oulfe and others to the number of twentie On the left side were the Lords of Sey Hayes Vaudore Sanssaye Villenenfue and others in like number of twentie All togither fell vpon their knees to hear the prayer which one of the three Ministers there present made in the presence of the assay lants who when it was done came to handie blows in the order following Out of tenne companies of men at armes present at that siege Matignon the other Captains chose one hundreth Gentlemen even ten out of euerie companie well armed followed with 600. small shot with murrians 100. pikemen with their corselers These 800. men with some 200. voluntaries mixed among thē were led by the LL. of Fernaques Villermois S. Golombe Raberprey Lauerdin and others The fight lasted siue hours neither did the cannon cease which indomaged the defer dants with stones wherewith also the Countie was
by the marriages of daughters capable by succession to the kingdome of Nauarre And for such hee was esteemed and accounted vntil the death of the Duke of Alencon the kings brother VVhen presently the good olde Cardinall of Bourbon was titled in the head and made beleeue that in the age of sixtie yeares hee should liue and succeede a king who beside his yong yeares and strength of bodie liued not in any such disordered maner whereby hee should once haue occasion to thinke vpon his successor for it was shewed him that hee was the first Prince of the blood and that the right of inheritance and succession consisted in his person But when this deuise was found too weake and the absurditie too much discouered thereby seeking to impugne or deny the king of Nauarre to be the chief and eldest branch of his house in the right and title of his father who in a manner liued in him besides the reuocation by his vncle made vnto him of all rights names voyces and actions whatsoeuer both present and to come that might appertaine or belong vnto him as beeing issued from the house of Bourbon expresly acknowledging the said king of Nauarre his Nephew for the true sonne heire successor and representation of the chiefe branch of the said house they inuented other obiections and subtile pollicies that vnder those pretences they might bleare the eyes of the common and simple people affirming the Crowne of France to bee vacant and so belonged to the first Conqueror aâ—leaging for reason that as in the populer successions of common people such as are of the kindred and familie of any houses beeing in the tenth degree of consanguinitie cannot bee heires of their kinsmans lands so farre in discent from them and therby the inheritance falleth into the Lords hands and that so the house of Bourbon had no title or any right to the Crowne of France as beeing in the tenth degree of consanguinitie from it wherof they caused diuers discourses and whole volumes to bee written But that not beeing able to bee beaten into the heads of true Frenchmen nor once set footing or enter into the opinions of the commun people altogither incapable of such Sophisteries they beganne to enter into an other course of iniuries accusations and inuections wherein they contented not themselues onely to crie out and make war against the said king and to produce and cause to bee published a perpetuall incapacitie in his person and that without the Popes consent but they accused him of treason they condemned him they named him vnwoorthie and incapable to rule in France they assembled all the estates of France at Blois wherein a manner they vtterly reiected him euery man shewed to bee his enemie if not in his right and title yet touching the religion which hee then held and finally went about to frame his proces But to the contrarie those that pursued him were themselues executed before they heard their condemnation or iudgement In this maner the fire beganne to bee kindled in all the foure quarters of the realme and the blow was of such force that all neighbour Princes were mooued there at such as were offended arming themselues to bee reuenged and the people in a manner led by a furie helping them and with them turned their faces against the king whereof the Towne of Parris was the first and by example therof all the Towns in lesse then 6. weeks made that great strange coÌ„motion that continued for the space of fiue whole yeares ensuing Shee mooued them to this dissention by the smooth and speciall reasons by her alleaged against heresie periurie and tiranny coniuring them by dutie to their countrie and by the loue they ought to beare to the preseruation thereof to ioyne with her in so iust a cause and to passe one of these two waies hauing no other meanes either to bee vanquishers or die in the quarrell rather then to submit themselues to the king And among the rest the Cittie of Lyons neuer inferiour to any Cittie in the world touching fidelitie and obedience to their kings that had no other obiect then onely zeale of religion in the defence whereof it espied many euident and mortall signes suffered it selfe to bee borne away among this troupe not once considering or apprehending the multitude of miseries by her after that indured And in this manner the warres beganne with so straunge an alteration and motion of all estates yea euen of the very pillers of the land and the reuolt was such that in fine the royaltie of the king was reduced to a small corner of the countrie about Tours and Blois where without doubt the league had buried it if suddainly the king of Nauarre had not ayded him who therevpon tooke courage againe hauing on his side the Hercules of France scourge of rebels to their Prince but when this disordered and great mutinie beganne somewhat to decline and that the presence and authoritie of the Soueraigne Prince held the most assured within the bounds of their duties and that Parris perceiued it self in way and course of extreame desolation suddainly the king was slaine And then O the great and deepe iudgements of God hee that about three moneths before had passed ther riuer of Loire onely with foure hundreth horse a thousand shot and certaine pikes was presently made chiefe soueraigne and commaunder of a most faire and great armie to whom the Magistrates and Officers of the Crowne and all the Nobilitie yeelded their obedience thereby seeking to impeach the desolation and ouerthrow of the whole estate and to preferre the dutie of naturall fidelitie before the vaine hope of straungers and the last hazard of the rest and suretie of their liues and goods And so behold him king that not seuen moneths before had been depriued of the title of the first Prince of the blood and of the hope of the name Sacrying and Crowne of the Princes his auncestors that had so many times beene driuen from the Court that in foure yeares had seene tenne armies and tenne Generals to a king marching before the heads of the forces of the greatest Prince of the most warrelike nation in all the world against him that after the ouerthrow of a great forraine power had withdrawne himselfe into a corner of the Realme without land men or mony and a Prince altogither poore vnlesse it were in hope He that had been declared vnable for the Crowne that had beene made one of the Cardinall of Bourbons retinue that was no more acknowledged to be of the race or progenie of S. Lewis as beeing ten degrees in consanguinitie from it he that the countrie of Spaine esteemed the subiect of all our miseries who in the life of â—ur kings was the only argument of all the tragedies that had been acted in the countrie of France he that thought not to haue succeded a king being in the flower of his liuely and gallant youth that had bin an occasion to
Princes of his blood But God shewed that he loueth not disturbers of the estate nor such as bath their handes in their owne blood that take courage by the indiscreet opinions of certaine pretences The enterprise of Amboise ciscouered in Ann. 1560. the enterprisors pursued by the Duke de Nemours The gate of Hugon in Tours by the which they assembled or of the first accords of the declaration of protestants made in Latin which are Huc nos venimus and that vse remedies crueller then the disease it selfe For that he ouerthrew this first enterprise and the actors thereof beeing taken vppon the suddaine obtained paine and punishment for reward and so were hanged in their bootes and spurs at the castle of Amboise But the sparks that issued out of this flint after that set fire to the ciuill warres of France and because the greatest part of those alterers of estates were of the new religion that as then were called Huguenots of the place where they first assembled themselues in Tours the Cardinall of Lorraine beganne to crie out against Hereticques and to make them more odious he caused it to be reported throughout the Realme that their enterprise was against the king wherein they induced the Prince of Conde who to iustifie his innocencie and to shewe the integritie of his heart to the seruice of the king in his presence and others the Princes Lords and Officers of the Crowne spake openly and said That his Maiestie excepted and with reuerence to the Princes his bretheren the Queene his mother and the Queene then raigning those that had reported him to bee of the enterprise of Amboise lyed falsely and if they would seeme to iustifie it hee offered to fight with them and that if they were not comparable vnto him for degree hee would imbase himselfe for that time and make them either by sword or launce confesse themselues to bee vilaines and traitors And thervpon this Prince not induring to liue among so many suspitions and distrusts as beeing the But and marke of his enemies left the Court and went vnto his brother the king of Nauarre whither such as professed reformation withdrewe themselues This disease increasing more more and the corrupted humors therof breeding to a dangerous and mortall palsie the Queen-mother that knewe better the disease then the cause thereof The assembly of Fontainbleau Anno. 1560. the 21 of August where the King the Queene and diuers Princes sat there the Admirall presented a Petition and said that he would cause it to be signed by 50000. men and the Cardinall of Lorrain said the King should oppose 100000. against it They were not permitted to alight as the manner is at the kings Pallace She said that no man euer bandieth against the blood of France with out repētāce Iustification of the Prince of Conde Agreement made betweene the Prince of Conde and the house of Guise the 14. of August 1561. La Popelimere saith that the king of Na. promised the am bassador of the K. of Dēmark to cause the religiō to be preached throughout France within one yeare after perceiuing that by sharp and bitter remedies it was nothing healed beganne to vse gentlier and more easie and to the same end she caused the most learned and wisest men in al France to be assembled at Fontainbleau there to debate the causes of religion Where the Admiral presented the request of those whō he supported which was to haue libertie of churches and freedome of conscience wherevnto the Cardinall opposed himselfe And the Lords of Monluc Marillac were of opiniō that the most assured means to stop those new sprung sects was to submit themselues to a generall Councell and in fine the conclusion of this assembly was that a Parliament of the generall States should be holden at Meaux in the moneth of December after and a nationall Councell the tenth of Ianuary then next after ensuing The Parliament was holden at Orleans and the king sent for the king of Nauarre to come thither and to bring the Prince of Conde his brother with him that there hee might cleare himselfe of the hard report that ranne against him to the which end they set forward and arriued at Orleans presenting themselues vnto the king that intertained them not as their qualities and nearenesse of blood required For the Prince of Conde was committed prisoner whose deliuerance was sued by the Ladie Renee duches of Ferrare neuerthelesse his processe was framed wherevnto hee pleaded not guiltie yet in fine hee was condemned to haue his head striken off before the kings Pallace and at the entrie of the States vpon the which iudgement he continually expected the houre of death But by Gods prouidence the death of the king procured both his life and libertie for king Charles iudged him to be innocent At the same time the Court of Parliament in Parris made an Edict the Parliament of Estate continued and the difference of religion was appeased by staying for a generall Councell Meanetime Messieurs de Guise being in hope that their greatnesse would still increase and spread abroad were much abashed to see it shortened by the death of the king their Nephewe and thereby to be constrained and put in minde to thinke that they were no more as they had been So that they yeelded their place to the King of Nauarre but not the opinion nor the hope to recouer it once againe By that means their great affaires left off but they forsooke them not seeking by all meanes to be reconciled to the Prince of Conde alwaies keeping their owne like the Maister of a shippe that hoyseth and pulleth downe his sayles as time serueth and alwaies stopped the holes wherein they foresawe the round world enter ceasing not to speake most assuredly and openly against heresie which they so much the more detested as that they perceiued the Princes of the blood to lend their helping hand towards the aduancement and establishing thereof and that the king of Nauarre that made account thereof began to like it hauing more desire to the Realm of Nauarre that was promised to be restored vnto him and to that of Sardaigne offered him if he would separate himselfe from the Princes reformed and the protection of the protestants Churches then to the consideration of the quarrell of his house The greatnesse of those Princes could not continue equall by reason of the vnequallitie of their houses Yet they sought to go all in one ranke whereby the kings fauor could no sooner giue countenance to the one but it mooued the other His fauour is like a faire Ladie euery man seeketh and courteth her and if she smile more vpon one then vppon the other it breedeth but iealousie despight quarrell she cannot diuide her heart in two without a a mortall diuision Euery man hath his turne and both Catholicque and Huguenot vnder pretence and zeale of religion seeketh to get the good wil of the king his
haue one eye thrust out the other the greatest Princes in the world are much troubled thereby and yet constrained to indure it The Princes of Almaine haue this diuersitie in one Towne yea in one Host and in one familie without either trouble or diuision The interim of the Emperour Charles the fist 1530. Confirmed 1555. The Emperour Charles the fift was constrainsd to passe that path and his brother Ferdinand a man most affected to the Catholicque religion consented to the same libertie in his kingdomes of Bohemia Hungaria and Austria Pietie is the foundation of all estates which cannot be in all places where God is diuersly serued It is so and you finde many that complaine thereof but fewe that seeke the remedie we knowe but two that is rigor and peaceablenesse either by a generall Councell or by armes For the first it needeth not because the trueth once knowne and determined ought not to be brought in question or disputed of againe The latter is altogither straunge and it was neuer heard that men were put to death to force them to beleeue To kill burne and massacre are words neuer vsed but in seditious enterprises those of the new opinion that liue among the Catholicques without preaching or open exercises are content to seeke no further freedome then the libertie of their conscience without being troubled A King cannot refuse his subiects the libertie of not speaking for that mens tongues and consciences are not vnder the Soueraigntie of his Scepter Tacere liceat Nulla libertas minor a rege Petitur Senec. O ed. Lictance li. 5. cap. 14. God is the God of mens soules Kings may constraine mens bodies and force them to say that outwardly which inwardly they deny For as he that is called the Cicero of Christians saith Who can constraine me not to beleeue that which I will beleeue or to thinke that credible which seemeth incredible there is nothing so voluntarie as religion but if the minde be separated from it it is no more religion but hypocrisie and dissimulation force will do that Purpure cultores efficies non Dei. which should be done onely by loue for by it men respect more the penalties of the lawe then the lawe it selfe they will reuerence the Iudges scarlet gowne not for the loue of the Iudge but for feare of the executioner that attendeth on him â—ides suadenda non imperanda Bernard and when they are gone their courages are found to be strongerthen their torments their constancie greater then their cruelties peaceablenesse is more conuenient and hath more force Faith commandeth not but is taught the strongest or roughest bits are not fit for good horses Our coÌ„sciences are the like for force breaketh sooner theÌ„ bendeth theÌ„ If the Lute bee not well tuned or if the Meane do not agree with the Base we must not therefore breake it About the end of Iune 1574. the king called him his father but winde it softly vp and you shall make them accord The Emperour Maxemilion that said that no sinne could be greater then to violate mens consciences answered the king of France returning out of Polonia proposing the ruine of the Huguenots the restablishing of the only religioÌ„ of his forefathers in his realm that those wich seek to rule ouer meÌ„s consciences supposing to win heauen do oftentimes loose their possessions on earth To obey God and serue the king Two religions cannot command in one Realme It is true but that is no consequent why there should not be two for the subiect is not bound to follow the religion of his Prince as long as he permitteth him the libertie of his own he must obey and serue hee giueth to God that which is Gods and to Caezar In the time of Clouis a Pagan there was Christians in FraÌ„ce that which is Caezars and confoundeth not the difference between those two seruices and duties He that hath one religion cannot haue two and hateth and detesteth that which is the contrarie Clouis our first christian King being a Pagan tollerated christians in his Realme and so did our King being in Polonia permit Latin and Greeke Churches with the confession of Ausbourg Lutherans and Caluenists to liue togither in Muscouia and other countries belonging vnto the Emperor the prince of Greece a great part of his subiects are different froÌ„ him touching religion And although the Turke receiueth not the Crowne yet he constraineth them not to leaue their christianitie The Frenchmen could not indure Iewes in France They bannished them not because of their religion but for their Barbarous cruelties wherewith they crucified young children in dispight of the sonne of God and for their extreame vsuries wherewith they consumed the common people The king suffering Heretickes doth wrong to the Catholicques The king is Common-father to them as well as to the others Iewes banished out of France and for what cause as there is no reason to prooue the ingratitude of the sonne towards the father so all lawes detest the inhumanitie and impietie of the father against the son Those whom the king so oftentimes proclaimeth rebelles and his enemies are his children his subiects and his seruants God neuer prospereth the enterprises of the subiect against his Prince very sildome haue kings had great triumphs by wars ouer their subiects It belongeth to a Vittellius and not to a king of France to walke along the fieldes his garments all died with the blood of his subiects Vitellius said that the body of the enemie slaine sauoureth well but that of the citizen beeing dead is better Tacit. lib. 17. Suet in the life of Vitellius Cap. 10. The people neuer die The 5. Edict of peace An. 1577. made at Poictiers in the moneth of Septemb. Conference at Nerac the last of Februarie 1579. The 6. Edict of peace in An. 1581. and to delight in the sauour of their dead bodies lying slaine vppon the ground VVhen the Huguenots shall be ouerthrowne and consumed the king shall liue in peace Suppose he putteth them to death and that at one time hee cutteth off a hundreth thousand heads The General seed is immortall by the succession of euery particular familie kindred and seuerall man which still increaseth one after the other although euery particular man of himselfe is mortall the bodie of the people in general neuer dieth The K. may wel destroy al the particulars of this new opinion but they will leaue as many children whose innocencie God and nature will not permit to touch that will succeed not onely in their goods but in the humors quarrels and passions of their fathers In fine those that perswaded peace by their reason alleadged got the vpper hand of those that desired warre and there vpon it was concluded with great concontentment on both both parts that the Prince of Conde the same night he receiued it caused it to be published by torch-light although with lesse aduantage on
could not approoue their inuentions and to conclude sent them backe againe without an answere And not long before he died sayd to the Cardinall of Est that the league shuld neither haue bull letter nor commission from him for he knewe not what they ment and that hee would not serue for a firebrand to kindle a warre which he could by no meanes quench The impatience of the league that would by no means stay the resolution of the Court of Rome publikely manifested her intent making it selfe so much more plausible as the pretences thereof made it seeme admirable and faire in that the name of one of the first Princes of the blood stood written in the forehead thereof A Prince in all other respects olde and decayed wholly without hope euer to marry to haue issue or to suruiue a king both young and lustie The people on the other side were all disposed to rebellion so that there wanted nothing but the watch-word Mean time The Cardinall of Burbon The Astronomers assured the duke of Guise of the short life of the king euery man looked into the royaltie they reckoned the kings age they would make him a king like to the King of our Stageplaies who while he is apparelled is called most noble king It was openly sayd spoken in euery mans mouth that the King dying without issue he had no other successor then the Cardinall of Bourbon and yet in the meane time the people were couertly put into the heads of the vaire vsurpation of the Capets vpon the heires of Charlemaine whereof there was diuers bookes printed and then the Pasquils ran about the Court and I haue noted some of the best which will not be amisse to be set downe herein The King I desire peace and for sweare warre The Duke of Guise Peace beeing made my hope is cleane gone The Duke de Maine By warres we obtaine both credite and riches The Cardinall of Guise Time offereth it selfe couertly vnto vs. The King of Nauarre He that reckoneth without me thinking I will indure it let him assure himselfe to reckon twise The Cardinall of Bourbon Euery man may reckon that which he thinketh to be his owne The Queen-mother This disputatioÌ„ is of no force as long as my son liueth The Duke of Lorraine Let vs neuerthelesse follow the league her pretences The Duke of Sauoy Then the king will loose both France and all his subiects The King of Spaine If France be lost I will soone finde it France Soft and faire there needeth not so many dogges for one bone such as by ambition seeme to trouble me did neuer prooue my force AN ARGVMENT BOTH WITH and against the league The King he hath no children to succeed His successor a Catholicque must bee The Realme is taxt with imposts euerie day And people mooued do seeke for vengeance still Two three or foure minions possesse the wealth The Parliament was holden all in vaine The holy league will now redresse these wrongs Thereby for to reduce our hope againe The King hee hath no childe but hee may haue Rebellion ought not to redresse our right The King can ease our case without constraint His mignons two or three are not so great And Parliament will end all difference VVhich may cut off the way vnto the league I must I will it pleaseth mee to thinke So many reasons cannot bee but good But such confused mindes haue no restraint For thou preferst degree and honour high It s true they Princes are most fortunate Comparisons with them may not bee made But they set fire in their dwelling house VVhich is an act both pittifull and straunge They are disdainde but knowest thou wherefore I dare not speake I leaue that to the King If hee say nought God knoweth what hee thinks I will not vtter word for feare of blame Onely it greaueth me so many wise And learned men in France do hold their peace The victorie is for them each man doth say Such as haue interest will them resist All is now free with horror and with death And our afflictions mortall are Behold the foolish toyes of ydle braine To thinke our wrongs proceed from wicked men And he that saith our king is fast a sleepe If he a subiect be then let him showt For mee I dare not speake in thes straunge time Least that our Courtiers ketch me by the backe I am too weake my countrie for to helpe But to destroy the subiects of our King Orit desire sheweth a want of faith For hee that honoureth not his lawfull Prince May well bee said hee feareth not the Lord. I am not borne a King my fate most hard Permitteth not such glory to my race But if I were a King such dignitie VVould cause me make my name for to bee fearde I would march foorth in armes most terrible VVith Maiestie most like for to commannd And dumpting pride of subiects â—utime Immort allize my name for euer more God should mee guide faith should be my shield The people my support the lawe my strength To die the earth with blood of traitor vile Opposing strength and force them to resist But I am not a King my heart doth faile I loue to rest and hate most bloody warre Perceiuing in our time the inconstant state VVhich giueth cause still to expect a change VVe may compare France to a Table square VVhereas foure sit primero for to playe The King on whom the losse must wholly fall Saith passe if I can and yet he hath gard game Bourbon he saith this game is tedious It werieth mee and throweth off his hat Not thinking what his lâ—â—ter card might bee Nauarre holds play and likest for to winne But Guise in hope to haue some little flush Veâ—â—eth at all Nauarre he doubleth it The Spaniards standing to behold their play And bearing part with Guisert couertly Supplyes his want with mony that he may In th' end haue all the gaine vnto himselfe To flatter lye dissemble and betraye By subtill meanes the trueth for to disguise To playe the foxe pretending holinesse To seeme denout and yet an Hipocrite To please great â—eâ— and follow at their heele Of earthly â—â—ulâ— to faine a deitie To respect state and now religion To forge a God of mans inâ—â—â—tion To aske for peace where peace cannot be had Readie to runne at euery little call Still to bee armed and saue the hereticque In stead of Catholicque Machiauel Not to regard the world that is to come Are signes of such as liue by pollicie To speake of God and yet a diuellish minde To make great shewe of rede and yet no faith To playe the polliticque despising lawe To promise rest and seeke to tyrannise To seeme an innocent and yet vniusts To shewe pittie yet filling all with blood To seeme subiect yet seeke the King to spoyle Do you call this a seruant Catholicque If to bee holy we must seeke to range In euery place to massacre and spoyle
And put both liues and goods in straâ—ngers hand And to our countrie furious Tigers seeme If leaguers lawe hath so ordained it To drowne my selfe I rather would desire Then for to liue an Vtheist in my heart And outwardly shewe a christian Although this age hath much abridged the libertie and freedome of writing which appeareth in our ancient Hystoriographers Prossart Monstielet Phillip de Comines yet wil I neither for feare nor flatterie two Historicall plagues seeme to couer the trueth of this discourse I confesse that in such places as of themselues are discommendable I haue added of mine owne to make them more notorious and in such actions as are woorthie praise wherein vertue coÌ„science valor consisteth Ispare no coÌ„mendation but in things indifferent I am constrained to suspend my iudgement rather then to enter into many vntrueths wherin if I should vse partiallitie I could not chuse but varrie from the matter My squadron is the trueth Plato and Socrates are my friends but I esteeme trueth before all things This Historie is a plea neither with not against the league I will not set roses among thornes there is neuer any vniuersall plague but some escape it and among so many and diuers actions it is impossible but there must be seuerall colours I will report the problemes debated on both sides I will shewe you their propositions which are neither so cleare nor apparant but there is alwaies some contrarietie I will set foorth in open shewe the occasions of the league the kings reasons and the king of Mauarres defences which I will declare without choise or difference and you shall consider of them without partiallitie hatred fauour or selfe will and esteeme them as a meate rather prepared for your health then for your taste Two things gaue a hotte alarme to the league one the assembly at Mâ—â—â—auban the other the voyage of the Duke d'Espernon to the king of Nauarre which it tooke as brands to kindle her fier and beganne to send out commissions in all places in the kings name who disauouched them and prohibited the raising of souldiers The first poynt of their dislike The kings Edict of the 28. of march 1585. against the raising of men shewed the reason which mooued the Cardinall of Bourbon the Princes Lords Townes and common people beeing Catholicques to oppose themselues against the Hereticques Secondly because they were offended that the Parliament which they would haue had to bee holden concerning warres to be made against the Huguenots had been reuoked Thirdly to breake the Edict of pacification Fourthly because they stood in feare that if the king should die without children there would rise great trouble for the succession of the Crownes Reuocation of the edict of peace whereof the king of Nauarre had great hope since the death of Monsieur the kings brother by the practise of his friends and fauourers about the king Fiftly because of the great preparations for warre made both within and without the Realme that should bee readie by the fifteene of Aprill then next ensuing Nominating of associates to the crowne beeing in Anno. one thousand fiue hundreth eightie fiue to execute that which they said had beene concluded in an assembly at Magdebourg the fifteenth of December one thousand fiue hundreth eightie foure agaist religion the king and his subiects by the which it was agreed that the Queene of England should furnish fiftie thousand Rutters foure thousand Switzers and twelue thousand Englishmen The Counte Palatin Prince Casimir and the Duke of Pomeranie each of them foure thousand Rutters The Langraue of Hesse two thousand and fiue hundreth The Duke of VVitemberg two thousand The Lords of their league besides the Queen of EnglaÌ„ds forces fiue thousand Switzers The kings Protector and Councell of Scotland two thousand Scots The king of Nauare the Prince of Conde and their associates fiue and twentie thousand Harquebusiers and foure thousand horse that had sworne neuer to make peace with the king of France but with all their consents to maintaine the Prince of Orange in the lowe Countries against the king of Spaine to helpe the Emperour by all the meanes they could to get the Demaines of the Empire witholdeÌ„ by the Pope and to send their deputies from all places in the month of March to Basill and Switzerland thereto determine the differences concerning the Lords Supper Sixtly because those of the religion wold not yeeld vp the townes by them holden for the assurance of that execution of the edict of peace Seuenthly because of 〈◊〉 vniuersal abuse suffered in placing of officers in leuying of monies by inuention of excessiue oppressioÌ„s laid vpoÌ„ the coÌ„mon people And lastly against such as abusing the K. fauor authoritie had in a maner ceased vpoÌ„ his person impeached the ordinary accesse of honest meÌ„ vnto him by that means to keepe from him the knowledge of disorders that are in them disposed gouernments to their fauorers consumed the kings treasures molested the commoÌ„ people braued the Nobilitie cut off the libertie of Iustice spoyled the Clargie of their tithes extraordinary benefits perswaded the king that it was necessarie for his seruice to weaken dimininish the authoritie of the Catholicke Princes Lords Vpon those iust occasions they sayd they were forced to meet in armes not hauing meanes by reason of the suddainenesse of the thing togither with the little credite they had with his Maiestie to stay for his Commission neither yet to proceede by any other waye to make him knowe their greefes assuring him that the ende and purpose of their pretence of raysing of armes was onely for to reestablish the Church of God in her true and ancient dignitie vnder the exercise of one religion throughout all his realme to restore the Nobilitie to their honor and franchises Pretence of the League to ease the common people of the impositions inuented and deuised since the raigne of Charles the ninth not to imploy the treasures that shall be leuied but for the kings seruice to procure that from thencefoorth the Parliament should bee holden euery three yeares to desire the king to take order touching the differences of the succession of the Crowne to the end his realme shuld not be diuided into as many factions as their are titles pretended For the suretie preseruatioÌ„ of their own persons among so many publike and priuate calamities to bannish from the Court such as abused the fauour and authori-of the King protesting not to do any thing against the seruice of the king neither yet to leaue armes before their intents were fully executed and that his Maiestie had procured meanes to shunne the daunger which to auoyde they had taken armes with promise likewise that their souldiers should bee payde The king thinking by faire meanes to retaine them in their duties and to exhort them to an vnion The Kings letters to the king of Nauarre wrote to the King of
had any other respect then only to God and seruice to the king And that assoone as his Maiestie by his Edicts had consented to the libertie of mens consciences he presently left armes and countermanded his troupes togither with the forrain aydes of his friends and confederates That for that cause hee is not enemie to the Catholicques as the report goeth That hee maintaineth those of Bearn in the small libertie they had when the Queen his mother died and so in all places of the kingdome of Nauarre then resting vnto him where hee found the exercise of Catholicque religion he neuer permitted any change That the consultation in Magdebourg which the league so much spake of that they caused it to bee preached openly in the Churches was an imagination and woorthie such reports for that it would be found that neither there nor in any other place it was euer holden And that in the extract of forces by them therein set downe they induce the Ambassadors of the Elector Palatin of the Prince of Orange the one beeing dead aboue a yeare before and had left a sonne within yeares vnder the wardship of the Duke Casimir the other about foure moneths before that was slaine at Delft by Balthazard Girad That the declaration by them made of his incapacitie to the succession of the Crowne was the thing that touched him most yet vntill then hee had least minde of it contenting himselfe with the hope that God would long time preserue his Maiestie for the good of his Realme and Common-wealth and would in time giue him issue to the great greefe of his enemies not seeking to iudge the king or Queene to bee barren in the flower of their ages That those which in their declaration and protestation named him to bee desirous of the kings death a perturber of the State and sworne enemie to all Catholicques had falsely wickedly lyed and therevppon besought the king that the quarrell might bee descided betweene him and the Duke of Guise one to one two to two or tenne to tenne without troubling himselfe or suffer the people to indure any longer vexation The Queen-mother that held with the Duke of Guise more to crosse and trouble him to make an entrie into the disorder and confusion of all affaires then to aduance him Princes fauourers of the league gaue the king to vnderstand what power the league was of shewing him that therein hee had to do with the Pope the Emperor the king of Spaine the Duke of Sauoy certaine Princes of Germanie the Catholicque Cantons of Switzers all the house of Lorraine and all the chiefe Towns in France that had entered therin al resolued to expose their persons in the middle of all perils as the last anker to preserue religion frō shipwracke And shee gaue him so hotte an alarme with those first assaults The surprising of the Citadel of Lyons the 2. of May 1585. and knew so well how to vse the occurrence of the taking of the Citadell of Lyons wherof the Captain had bin driuen out vnto her purpose that the more the king thought vpon it the more hee perceiued himselfe to bee weakned and the leaguers aduanced Hee thought that the ramparts defences of his Estate were alreadie abated hee beleeued that alreadie the Duke of Guise held him by the collor it seemed vnto him that his Pallace of Louure was besieged with great paine they could hardly make him come foorth of the Capucins sell it was no more he that wan the battelles of Iarnac and Moncontour generositie wanted and his heart began to faile Herein diuers Polititians noted a great fault in the Estate which after produced great accidents Many imbarked them selues with the league being made beleeue it was for the kings person but perceiuing the contrary left it Caezar onely opposed but the authoritie of his face against his mutinous legions but it was with a liuely and bolde assurance not doubtfull nor trembling If the king had shewed himself to the league not couered with a Penitents garment or habit of an Hermit not by faire and plausible meanes but with constancie courage and resolution woorthie a Maiestie royall hee had well made them knowe him to bee king the true and onely Image of God that had thunder readie in his hand to consume and confound such as rose vp against him the warre would bee ended The armie of the Duke de Guise which at his first rising and in the flower thereof was but a thousand horse and foure thousand foote had been dispearsed in lesse then a month and the Cardinall de Bourbon had confessed to the Queene-mother that if the king had banded his authorithie against him all his attempts had been cleane ouerthrowne Feare is a plague to valiant mindes but when the heart of the chiefe commander is possest therewith his authoritie is abated it dimisheth falleth and vndermineth it selfe for feare in flameth the courage and causeth men so much more boldly to enterprise their wicked actions as that they are assured they shal not be punished Also the king letting slip this reuolt rather speaking faire then commaunding and yeelding rather then opposing thereby drew all the mischief of those toubles vppon his owne head He desired the Queen-mother to beare some of his blowes This is the opinion of the Author that made the tiberal and excellent discourse fol. 22. The last request of the Princes of the league The Edict published in Parliament the king being present the 18. of Iuly 1585. The K. fearfull disarmeth himselfe to cause the league to disarm them selues and to procure the Duke of Guise to leaue off his armes and to assure him of his fauor and that he would giue him what part of his Realme soeuer hee would aske to let him liue in peace This Prince of great hope wise and valerous and one of the greatest Captains that France in long time had bred perceiuing that so hardy an enterprise had alreadie taken so good effect and made so great a change pursued it and perceiuing the king to yeeld vnto him hoped more then he either thought or ought to do And there vppon presented the king with another request wherein very wisely hee motioned his owne interest togither with the common cause signed by himselfe and the Cardinall of Bourbon tending to this end To desire him to make and sweare an vnreuocable edict for the extirpation of heresies To take by force the Townes holden by those of the new religion To reuowne the protection of Geneue to authorise their warres to reconcile them vnto him to be of their league and of a king to become a participant Therevppon with all speede the peace was made and cast into a mould the king suffering himselfe by that feare to bee so much carried away And by the edict hee prohibited the exercise of the new religion reuoked all other edicts that fauoured it commaunded the Ministers out of the land and all
we shall finde that the exposition followeth not the text hee beginneth the letter to the king with an vnfortunate clause saying Sir I am very vnfortunate and truely if the felicitie of this life consisteth in contentment contentment in quietnesse and quietnesse in a good conscience how can wee call a Prince fortunate or happy that is not content with his estate The miserie of great men that findeth no peace but in troubles assayled with the violence of passions like a tree blowne with two contrary windes tormented by so many strange accidents that abounoeth in the excesse of greatnesse of courage that hath no other life theÌ„ the miserable death of his quietnesse that nourisheth the brimstone which will consume him in his vaines that penetrateth his bones sucketh out the moyst humor that giueth him life Vnfortunate and thrise vnfortunate to liue in this sort betweene feare and distrust and then to haue an account to make to that great God that reuengeth the iniurie of Kings and of the people and that throweth downe such attempts as passe beyond reason Misfortune alwaies hayleth vpon such proude heads as desire to clime vp to the Moone and with their feete to touch the very intralles and bottome of the earth that seeke to administer lawes to heauen earth and hell It is most infallible truth that such as seeke their owne glorie and profit by the hurt and dammage of their countrie and the subuersion of publike peace The miserable end of disturbers of an estate This doth shew that it was printed without the Authors name in the yeare 1562. will be mischieued by the mischiefes that they themselues procure and ouerthrow themselues in the storme of their outragious passions All our Histories are full of the violent deaths of those that sought to thrust their nayles into the woundes of the Common-wealth to make themselues great for that God which imbraceth the quarrelles of an innocent people that detesteth rebellioÌ„s that hath particular care of kings and their estates dispearseth the scourges and casteth away the rods wherewith he whipped the shoulders of those that shake off the yoake of his commandements It is holden that the trouble of Vassy kindled the fiers of the first ciuill warres And therefore Ronsard in his Demonstration directed to the people of France desireth that the authors of those new troubles may perish with the spring time of the yeare next ensuing after hee wrote and in trueth the Duke of Guise died not long after in the same season his verses are these O God most high that dwellest in the cloudes And knowest well the authors of our warres God that all scest behold and vnderstand Graunt I thee pray that with the next sweete spring VVhich shall bring foorth the pleasant blooming flower The author of our troubles manifold May die in combat and his life yeeld vp By force of pike or bullet fatally Also there is no sin which God doth lesse dissemble with nor wherein his wisdome doth vse shorter tolleration or his fury greater and sharper to punish it then the sin of great men which dispearse ouerthrow and trouble the lawes of a Realme he addeth that to quench the false reports that ranne of him that with the perill wherewith hee was threatned hee would iustifie his life comming vnto his Maiestie with so small a company A great person oâ—â—ht to purge himselfe it is a poynt of generositie to put innocencie out of hazard A great man is blamed for dissembling the slaunders made against him and the haughtier the heart is the greater is the feeling Nicyas was despised as beeing so timerous that hee gaue mony to such as accused him falsely to leaue off their accusations Lucius Posthumius fled by reason of an Ambassage and for that hee would not bee at an assignation made by Marcus Cantius Tribun vnto him to appeare before the people To the contrary they are commended He disposeth of their offices that offered to purge themselues before their enemies as Caius Menenius Dictator and Marcus Follius his Constable The Duke of Guise perceiuing himselfe so neare the King and beeing aduertised of the accusations made against him touching his pretences had reason to go to Parris in that manner and with so small a company The life of an honest man ought to be seene of all men for that the subiect ought not to approach the presence of his Prince with any forces nor in that sort to present himselfe vnto his Maiestie for the interest he had to be once iustified for that a man of honor and careful of his credite that respecteth not the common brute but the integritie of his coÌ„science that maketh his house like yâ— of Iulius Drusus in such sort that his neighbors on al fides may see into it neuer suffreth himself to be so wholy born away for the conseruatioÌ„ of his proper life that he neglecteth his reputation And so he assureth the king that nothing but that made him come to Parris desiring rather to disobey then languish in such distrust His goodly reasons are not without replie gardiners are of opinion that they make roses and violets of a sweeter sauor if they sowe or plant them hard by onyons or garlick Let vs see if whether that whereof the Duke of Guise is reproached or his allegations be most sauerie I wil herein set downe a peece of the Apostrophe of the most excellent and liberall discourse and the intent of the author was that such as would write the Histories of our time should serue themselues therewith Gold is good in all places this gilding will beautifie our workmanshippe Thou complainest sayth hee that euill reports were made against thee and thy honour which God be thanked thou hast defaced by this last act thou art a maruellous Rethorician certainly it is true thou art well purged thou art accused to haue caused the people of certain towns in this Realm to haue risen against the Gouernors that the K. wold haue placed therin thou hast defaced that blot by causing Parris to rise against the K. himself thou art accused that at Chaalons Reims Soissons and other places where thou camest thou didst cease vpon the kings treasures and thou hast purged thy self by taking those he had spared kept in his capital cittie thou wert suspected to enterprise against the estate to aspire vnto the crown that for the same purpose thou haddest alreadie ceased vpoÌ„ certain good townes holdeÌ„ by thee thy partners wherein the K. is not obeyed thou hast made this false report to vanish coÌ„ming in person to make thy self Maister of Parris in driuing the K. out after thou haddest forced slain disarmed his gard made the common people of the town to rise vp against him in which sort thou doest most wisely couer a theft with a sacrilidge a murther with an homedice and a sin with a crime thy simplicitie is too grosse thou triumphest that
thou wast so hardy to enter into Parris with no more theÌ„ 8. Gentlemen a signe of thy simple innoceÌ„cie A great matter surely but go thou into Rochel with al thy new Courtiers thy followers thy guard the king of N. wil enter therin but with 4. men only if at thy going out thou runnest not away-he will make thee be shrew thy selfe It is easie to bee said in base Brittaine but those that know that all the kings Councell are on thy side that his mother fauoureth thee that all the mutiners and crocheters of Parris and all the common inhabitants thereof are at thy deuotion We say that thy simplicitie was verie subtill and thy innocencie much to bee suspected How wilt thou haue vs beleeue that thou did-dest put so much trust confidence in the king seeing that after the league and the capitulation of Saint Maur thou wouldest neuer come thither vnlesse thon wert as strong as hee yet during his beeing in his armie against the Rutters thou neuer settest foote within it onely once by surprising it and that for the space of a quarter of an houre No beleeue me it is thy exercise to play these feates and not to excuse them thou art better acquainted with the one then the other Hee saith that the distrust which ceased vppon the people of Parris when the kings forces entered into the publicque places of the Towne constrained his good and faithfull subiects to arme themselues and without conference togither assured of his presence and of certaine order by him suddainly taken among them they Barricadoed themselues on all sides Barricadoes the inuention of the Duke of Guise Then the Barricadoes are the inuention of the Duke of Guise and without his presence the people had not stirred taken armes not banded against the thunder that descended from heauen This is confirmed by the declaration made by the Parrisians the words whereof are these Aduice was giuen that the Regiment of Picardie was sent for in great haste as also the Sieurs de Merâ— and de Thore bringing more then three hundreth horse which could not be prepared vnlesse that matter had beene purposed long before The occasions of the Barricadoes The newes of those troupes made the Parrissians to suspect and the insolencies of those alreadie established made vs as then to inquire of the preparation made by the Duke de Guise and vnderstanding that neither hee nor his were armed euery man thought to ayde himselfe so that as it were by one generall consent euery one in lesse then an houre vnited placed them in the streets for their defence which is a thing natural to al liuing creatures so the Parrissians mooued not but for feare of a Garrison this foundation is not well laid for that all sedition and rebellion is euill and pernicious in kingdomes although the cause bee good and commendable As the Prince should cut off the meanes to the first motions of those troubles and quench the fiers that beeing hatched in a particular house would enter into the Churches Pallaces and publike houses so the people ought to suffer and indure al extremities rather then to rise against their soueraigne although hee were a Tyrant cruell inhumaine for like as all that pleaseth a Prince is not permitted to be done by him so al the is permitted vnto the people is not profitable and oftentimes it happeneth that the remedie is more cruel then the disease it selfe and that seeking to shunne one calamitie we intangle our selues in an infinite of miseries Experience setteth before our eyes the enterprises and successe of coniurations Defence is not permitted to subiects against their King the beginnings haue beene impiteous and the ends miserable The tyrannie of one man is euill that of many is woorse but the worst of all is an vnbridled power and an absolute libertie that hath cast off the yoake of lawes When a people arme themselues against a Tyrant it must take heed that of one it maketh not fifteene or that in seeking to shun tyrannie The words of K. Francis it indureth not confusion and disorder which from the royaltie proceedeth to the populer estate You my Maisters of Parris alleadge that the armes you beare are not to offend any man but onely to defend themselues that is good against a straunge Prince but against the king and your Soueraigne it is most execrable God detesteth and forbiddeth it and whatsoeuer he doth bee it right or wrong it is no more lawfull for you to stirre against him then for a childe to mooue against his Parents Causes of sedition The life of man is the vnion of the bodie and the soule the life of a Realme is commaundement and obedience if the one bee separated from the other that the soule tyrannizeth the bodie and that the bodie will not receiue the lawe of the soule that is of reason it is a death When the Prince commaundeth vniustly and when the subiects will not obey the Realme falleth to ruine her temperature altereth resolueth into the first matter loosing her forme It was to that end that wise King Francis the first said that euery estate of Common-wealth or Monarchie consisteth but in two poynts in the iust commaundement of a Prince and the loyall obedience of the subiects Let vs now see why so many euilles and disobediences haue issued from this pandore all commotions such as that of Paris do commonly growe vpon one of these poynts When the people are charged with supportable exactions by the auarice of the Princes that raiseth them vpon the people by inhumaine and infamous waies and impositions as Caligâ—le raised impositions vppon common Stewes Heliogabalus vpon mens vrin and Alexander Seuerus vpon Hot-houses there is alwaies mutenie And therefore the Parrissians vnder Charles the sixt tooke occasion to mutin because the Gabelliers asked a halfe-penny of a poore woman that solde Cresson When the King giueth estates and dignities to vicious rather then vertuous and vnwoorthie rather then woorthie men For as in a consort of musick the different voyces are ruled by one tune from the which they cannot once so litle varrie but they make a discord in the ears of the Musitians Likewise the Common-wealth composed of men of high meane and base quallities that are vnited by Harmonicall proportion according to the which proportion in the distinction of persons and their merits publicque charges ought to bee supplyed And when honours which is the most daintie morsell of vertue is conferred to colde and rawe stomackes it becommeth contemptible The estate of Barron was renowmed in France but it was afterward imbased when Charles the sixt at the siege of Bourdeaux created 500. at on time The order of S. Michael instituted by King Lewis the 11. The order of Saint Michael continued in his glory vntill such time as our Kings gaue it indifferently to all degrees without exception of persons or quallities that they bestowed it
any man I sent to the Lords of my Court namely to the D. of Guise to the end they should giue me a roll of their domesticall seruaunts and to send the rest away whom I vnderstood to be in great numbers at the least fifteen thousand which I did for the preseruation of my good Town of Parris with sureties of my subiects And therefore I will haue them to acknowledge their faults with greefe and true contrition I knowe well that they are put in minde and made beleeue that hauing offended mee in that sort my indignation is vnreconcileable but I would haue you to let them know that I am not so disposed to loose them and as God whose Image although vnwoorthie I beare heere vppon earth will not the death of a sinner so I desire not their ouerthrow I will trie the gentillest meanes and when they shall confesse their fault and shew by effect what sorrow they haue I will receiue and imbrace them as my subiects shewing my selfe like a father to his children yea a friend to his friend I will haue them to acknowledge mee for their good King and Maister which if they doo not but rather feede me with delayes withdrawing my hands as I can well do I will make them know their offences whereof the memorie shall remaine to all posterities for it beeing the chiefe and principall Towne honoured with the Supreme Court of my Realme and other Courts Priuiledges honours and Vniuersities I can as you know reuoke my Court of Parliament Chambers of accounts aydes and other Courts and vniuersities which would turne to their great decay For that ceasing their trafficques and other commodities would decrease yea and wholly decay as it happened in the yeare 1579. during the great plague by reason of my absence and the discontinuance of the Parliament a great number of my Councellours beeing retired so that the same yeare many of the shippes stood shut vp and the people liued idle spending their time in playing and walking in the streetes I knowe there are many honest men within my Towne of Parris and that of foure three parts are of that number which are greeued for the mischiefe that is happened then let them with speede procure my iust contentment that I be not constrained to vse rigor which to my great greefe I would bee loth to doo You know that patience once mooued turneth into fury and what a king that is displeased may doo For surely I will imploye all my power not leauing any meanes vnsought to reuenge my selfe on them although my minde bee not reuengetiue but I would that they would know that both my hart and courage is as great as any of my predecessors euer was I haue not as yet since my aduancement to the Crowne after my brothers death nor my returne out of Polonia vsed rigor to any man which you both knowe and can well witnesse neither I will that any man should abuse my clemencie and long suffering I am no vsurper I am lawfull king by succession as you all can testifie and of a race that hath alwaies commanded with benignitie It is in vaine to speake of religion I must take another course there is no Prince liuing in the world more Catholicque and desirous of the extirpation of heresies then I am which both mine actions and life hath shewed vnto my people I would it had cost mee an arme that the picture of the last Hereticque were painted here vpon my chamber wall Now you may returne to execute your charges and alwaies be of good courage for you need to feare nothing if I stand by you and I commaund you to let them vnderstand what I haue said Not long after the K. determined to go to Roane where the Inhabitants receiued him with great ioy shewing so many signes of their great desires to liue in his obedience that their fidelitie and loue mittigated the griefe of the reuolt and murenie of others The king goeth to Roane and not long before the Town of Lyons had expresly sent vnto the king to desire his Maiestie to come thither to acknowledge that their long and continuall fidelitie should appeare so much the firmer as by how much the more it was continually sought to be detected When the Duke of Guise perceiued that Parris in great haste returned vnder the kings obedience from the which it had so suddainely reuolted that the shame to bee without him made the boldest of them holde downe their heads that the violence of rebellion beganne to lessen by meanes of naturall reason that the sonne of the kings authoritie beganne to waxe hotte and that there was not any desperate leaguer but acknowledged that the absence of the Court would bee a hinderance to his purse his shop and his affaires hee determined to winne the kings fauour The Nobles of the league findes the day of the Barricadoes very greeuous thereby not to loose the ayde of those that found the action within Parris to bee ouer hardie All his seruants himself beginning returned to the wearing of their old cloaks of the K. authoritie which by their Barricadoes they had wholly troden vnder foote the third word that issued out of their fained and dissembling mouthes was the seruice of the king the obedience of his Maiestie the preseruation of the The Nobles of the league finds the day of the Barricadoes very greeuous estate there formations of disorders and the reliefe of the people beleeuing that this second enterprise would succeede with as much contentment and impunitie as the first and in steed of maintaining himself in the degree whervnto by so many paines daungers and troubles hee had as then attained he descended of a suddaine and went to finde the Queen-mother and with her to make some euill shapen coate the king reapeth more profit by his enemies then hee looked for Plutarche saith there was one that giuing a thrust with his sword into his enemies bodie by chance pearced an impostume therein which without doubt had killed him shortly after if that new Surgeon had not brokē it And so if the great mutinie of Parris had not suppressed the great aboundance of colde and heauie humours that long rest and pleasure hadde bredde and constrained the king to rise and bestirre himselfe hee had returned to his solitarie life and so most certanly had lost his Crowne before he could perceiue it The boldnesse of this enterprise filled his courage and from that time forward hee determined either to liue like a victorious king The profit which he hath of his enemies ordie vanquished But hee perceiued himselfe to bee reduced into two extremities both very daungerous in the middle whereof there stood a deep and profound pit the anker of his safetie is peace he could not make it both with the league and Huguenots togither if hee turned to the one side hee was assayled by the other if hee stayed in the middle hee was charged by them
good then possession of euill The difference in religion should mildly be agreed vpon Hee is not euill instructed in the principals of faith but hee is not sufficiently informed touching the Ceremonies he beleeueth constantly in the onely word of God contained in the booke called cannonicall the Catholicque taketh the interpretations of the word of God made by the Church for an infallible rule of his saluation and not like the Huguenot by the particular sence but by the vniuersall consent of the Church assembled togither vnder a legitimate head which is the Pope accord these two tunes make them beleeue in the traditions that since the time of the Apostles haue beene brought into the Church our Ceremonies in the administration of our Sacrament and in the election of Ministers and they are pleased and wee shall haue no more neede of warres If they say they will haue no other Iudges to determine their differences but the holy Scriptures which of it selfe is easie ynough without interpretations or Commentaries and that if it bee darke in one place it is opened in another tell them that it is not so easie plaine nor open but that diuers men do stumble in the vnderstanding thereof that it is not so cleare as that without interpretation it can discide all the controuersies of our faith that as God in the old lawes would haue a Moyses to iudge the law so he wold haue Ministers his successors that they shal determine difficulties of the doctrine of the Gospell Make them to agree with vs therein your difference will soone be ended and you shall bannish wars schismes in France To those reasons the league opposed theirs and said Your arguments are of no consequent you say that the Huguenot is not to bee pursued by armes because hee is not declared hereticque by cannonicall proceedings that hee is no hereticque because hee is not stubborne that hee is not stubborne because hee desireth instruction turne ouer the lease and you shall finde that the Huguenot ought to bee pursued by armes in that he hath beene condemned for an heretique by all the Councells specially of that of Trent that all nouelties are odious to the Church that he is an heretique for that knowing as it wer with his finger touching his error he staÌ„deth stubbornly in defence Obstinacy sence reprooued is the punishmeÌ„t of his infidelitie it is then to no end that he should aske instruction when there is no hope of amendment it is a tree without fruite and good for nothing but to bee cast into the fire To this poynt those that loued peace The warres for religion consâ—steth of a great number of Catholiques how deare soeuer it were cried out and said Will you then haue a new recourse to fiers punishments and remedies which wee haue alreadie tried to bee more proper to kindle and spread abroad then to quench and stop the euill Do you not as yet perceiue that God detesteth the terrible persecutions vsed against them in all the Courts of Parris that the Princes Gouernours of Townes Magistrates and officers of iustice haue with their owne bloods payed vserie for the vnmeasurable shedding of Christians blood that since the Magistrate left punishing and that the Prince hath pursued them by armes there hath died at the least a thousand Catholicques to kill a hundreth Huguenots The king is become a Captaine at his owne costs in the battels of Iarnac and Moncontour hee hath continued for the space of tenne or twelue yeares togither to make warres against them and in the ende after hee had vsed all meanes and attempted all extremities hee perceiued it was in vaine for him to kil to make men beleeue that the Gospel is not planted with other tooles then the word and peaceablenesse that it increaseth by suffering and not by persecution Iesus Christ planted his Church by miracles Mahomet by force and violence Religion is not the cause but the pretext of the warre The Talmud with her toyes and the Alcaron with her impostures detest the Christians furie that kill each other the first saith that Iesus Christ increased the Church by vertue of miracles and Machomet by force of armes Wee know well and if wee confesse it not wee are traitors to our countrie and of all others the most incencible that religion is not to be preached by drumb and fyfe and that of a hundreth that beare armes there is not tenne but haue an other intent then onely religion We know that this warre is a meere war against the estate that nothing was said touching the king of Nauarres conscience vntill it was euidently seene that by the death of Monsieur the kings brother hee was the next in succession to the Crowne and that it is most certaine that the League buildeth the assurance of things present by those that are to come that vpon the imaginatiue feare and of the succession of a Prince of an other religion the king beeing in the flower and strength of his age they dispute of the right possession and establish their vsurpation The Monarchie passeth to an other branch of the blood royall The Cardinall of Bourbon because the king hath no children because we should haue some they present vs an olde Prince an olde tree without fruit a hollow oake which serueth but for a support to the iuyce of the League and to the hopes of the Duke of Guise that climeth vnto the royaltie by his meanes Duke of Guise who vnder colour to powre water vppon those flames to place order in disorder and reformation inabuse suffereth men to burne in flame and ouerthrow all things Wherefore from hencefoorth the king must looke vnto that which as yet resteth whole and intire within his Realme that hee should make peace with the Huguenots that he should help himself with their forces which are Frenchmen against those Hispaniolized mindes that will eyther vsurpe the Soueraigntie of this estate or else conuert it into cantons like the Switzers To giue peace to the Huguenots to ayde himselfe with their forces to ouerthrow the Catholiques to stirre vp the Pope the king of Spaine and all Italy and in a word to constraine France to reuolt The king ought not to doo it and it is too much perill for himselfe Obiections against the League too much miserie for his people too much iniurie to the Church whereof hee is the eldest sonne hee should call wolues to helpe which in the end would deuoure the sheepe hee should serue himselfe with foxes that in fine would kil thee geese the king should bee Lent and the king of Nauarre the enterance into Lent or as we say Caresme prenant and then Huguenots would be ledde in triumphs through the Realme If the king should do it it would bee openly said that hee supporteth and aduanceth hereticques that seeking to do for himselfe hee doth for them hee will put Catholicques in dispaire and his crowne in hazard
Archbishop of Lyons of Bourgongne Reinold Earle of Forest Peter of Tarentaise that after was Pope of Rome Henry and Lewis Eales of Villars Montluel Charles d'Alencon Ame Iohn and Hugh de Talaru two Charles de Bourbon Cardinals Andre Cardinal of Espinac Francis de Rouen sonne of a Marshall of France Anthony of the auncient house of the Earles of Albon that were Dauphins de Viennois and Earles of Auuergne Peeces of money quoyned by the Archbishop of Lions with this deuise on the one side Prima sedes And on the other Galiarum And in trueth it is the principall sea of France the most famous and most auncient and in times past the Archbishop had a priuiledge to quoyne mony there are yet certaine peeces of mony to bee seene with their stampe and in the time that the kings of Bourgongne had that authoritie ouer the sea which the kings of France now haue the Archbishoppes were the first and most worthie instruments of their kings Councell Frideric Barbarousse in the time of Lewis le Ieune amplified their priuiledges by his letters writing to the Exarches or Lieftenants or chiefe Councellours of his Pallace of Bourgongne because that part of the Realm of Bourgongne that lyeth on this side the Mont Iura was as then Emperour of Rome The king seeking to withdrawe the Archbishoppe of Lyons out of the league promised him the custodie of the seale of France made him one of his priuie Councell before beeing onely of the Councell of estate recommended him vnto Pope Sixtus the fift and made him beleeue that the Lord of Gondy was sent expresly to fetch him the Cardinals Hat The Kings fauours shewed to the chiefe of the League Hee continued his fauours hee renued and amplified them to all those that had any credit in the League thinking that by the signes of his good fauour those Salmonees that would counterfeit Iupiters thunderboults would acknowledge and withdrawe themselues out of the confusion of their pretences Hee did nothing without them hee disclosed his secrets vnto them thrust his soule into the deepest part of their passions yea and seemed to bee as much mooued as they to the aduancement of treaties most liberally thrusting all his fauours and authorities vpon them and their participants so that there was none of them how farre soeuer in degree among them The Cardinall of Bourbon declared to be chiefe Prince of the blood See the treatise of Ianuary 1589. but felt some part of his benignitie He proclaimed the Cardinall of Bourbon to be the first Prince of the blood royall that is hee ratified the first Article of Ginuille made in Anno. 1585. which was wholly to exclude the king of Nauarre from the Crowne and auoyded that great disputation and argument of the Vncle and the Nephew so much written and disputed of both with tooth nayle thereby to trouble the auncient order of the succession and make the good Cardinal of Bourbon to serue the League on both sides This poynt deserueth some small view of their processe Those that sustaine the right and title of the Cardinall alleadged all these reasons first that the lawe of the Realme or the Salicque law that referreth the succession to the heires Masles referreth also the prerogatiue to raine to enjoy the Crowne to the next of the blood to the king that dieth without children Francis de Valois Duke of Alencon died with this prerogatiue of first Prince of the blood and first of the succession at his decease had no nearer kinsman theÌ„ the Cardinal of Bourbon that was in the tenth degree of consanguinitie from him by consequent succeeded in the prerogatiue of the Duke of Aniou as one cannot be heire to a man if he be not his heire by law so hee ought to haue that quallitie at his death at the which time the hope of succession was ioyned therevnto And as the succession inheritance of the Realm permitteth but one onely heire so this prerogatiue permitteth but one lawfull heire Quoniam sororem c. De iure de lib. This right of prerogatiue neuer rested but in the person of one of the Princes of Valois by the priuiledge of first begotten those of the house of Bourbon neuer had it because they could not represent the chiefe branch of a house from whence it did not issue the colaterall ingendring not the colaterall In such manner that Anthony de Bourbon although he had all the right of the house of Bourbon hauing not nor by any means would haue the right of elder the auncienter house beeing Valios yet liuing could not obtaine the prerogatiue of the first Prince or any hope to attaine vnto it nor yet to transferre it to Henry his sonne To say it commeth to the house of Bourban there beeing no other familie of the Masses but that house liuing and by consequent to him that hath all the preheminence of the right therein by vertue of succession and so to Henry sonne of Anthony as beeing the head of that house and representing his father eldest and first Prince of all that familie it is most certaine that this prerogatiue did not fall from the person of Francis Duke of Aniou Jus suitatis Eghinar din â—ita caroli to the familie of Bourbon for if it were so it would follow that all the Princes of that house should succeed in the same prerogatiue and that he which dieth should cease the whole reuenue of that familie and not the nearest So you cannot say that Anthony king of Nauarre being descended of the eldest house the right falleth to him seeing it is a thing cleare and without difficultie that the familie of the eldest is preferred before the familie of the youngest for in colaterall successors they consider the nearnesse of the Parents to the last that died ceased and the nearest in degree alwaies excludeth him that is further distant in Consanguinitie so Charlemaine comforming himselfe to the lawe of the Realme after the death of Charles his eldest sonne and Pepin the youngest iudged the Crown to Lewis his middle sonne that after was called le Debonnaire as brother and next heire to Charles his eldest sonne and not to Bernard sonne to Pepin the youngest sonne that was but in the second degree vnto him although in paternall inheritance he represented the person of his father Like case the prerogatiue that Francis Duke of Aniou had fell and proceeded to the Cardinall of Bourbon not because hee is of the house of Bourbon but next kin to the Duke of Aniou because hee descendeth of the Capets and of the blood royall of Hugh Capet And as the house of Bourbon at this day is reputed to haue this right because the said Cardinall of Bourbon that is issued from the same obtained it so if the said Cardinall were issued out of an other house so it were royall the familie of Bourbon should not be admitted to this prerogatiue but that from
causeth mee to put you all in minde not to forget the iust punishments that such blasphemies deserueth which my desire is should bee reformed without fauour or exception either of person or quallitie The inquirie and punishment of simony shall not as it becommeth all good Christians bee forgotten neither yet the order which is requisite touching the sale and multiplicitie of iudicial offices as being pernicious and insupportable to my poore subiects wherein had it not been for the troubles begunne in Anno. 1585 I had of my selfe taken some order but now I expect from you the holy and good meanes therein to bee vsed as in the distribution and prouision of benefices iudiciall and other officices of honour charge estate and dignitie in this Realme there consisteth that which is dearer vnto me then life it selfe mine honour the preseruation and splendure of this estate and the good will of all my subiects towards me to the end that such things may be done with more deliberation I meane from hence forward to appoynt some certaine times which shall bee made knowne vnto you and therein so to distribute them with iust consideration of each mans desert as in dutie I am bound as reason requireth my reputation restraineth mee and as the good I wish to this estate forceth me vnto minding that from this time forward euery man shall hold that good and honour hee hath only from me and for their better meanes to obtaine them at my hands I will take order for their more easie accesse vnto my person according to the times and houres I will imploy to that end I likewise will all my subiects to determine and resolue with themselues to liue as vprightly affectionately and faithfully in such offices as shall bee committed to their charges as shall be requisite for the discharge of my conscience and their owne wherein from hencefoorth I am not determined to indure any defects restraining my selfe by oath neuer to graunt reseruation of any thing whatsoeuer reuoking such as heeretofore haue been graunted and from this time foorth declaring them of no force intending not to obserue them as things that may bee preiudiciall and meanes to mooue men eyther to desire or purchase the deaths of other men and vngodly both in my selfe and in such as seeke to obtaine them I will likewise giue no more suruiuings determining that concerning those alreadie graunted I am minded to referre my selfe therein to your opinions It is most necessary to restraine euocations graunts remissions and abolitions that iustice should bee more prompt and lesse chargeable to the people and that crimes may bee exactly punished You must not likewise forget the inriching of Arts and Sciences the beautifying and repairing of the Townes within my Realme the gouernments and ordering of trade and trafficque of Merchandises as well by land as by sea and the restraining of vsurie with superfluities and excesse of things that are risen to most high prises The restoring and renuing of ancient ordinances touching the authoritie and dignitie of the soueraigne Prince with the reuerence due vnto him and his Magistrates which you shall determine as reason requireth The iust feare that you might haue after my death to fall into the gouernment of an hereticque king if it chance that God should not grant me any heires males is not more considered of by you then by me And I protest before God that I haue not more care of mine owne saluaion then desire to bereaue you of that feare which is one of the principall causes that mooued mee to make my holy Edict of vnion and to abolish that damnable heresie which although I haue most holily and solemnely sworne before him that giueth man constancie inuiolable to holde and obserue all good and holy oathes I am determined the more to establish it that it should bee made one of the fondamentall lawes of our Realme and that vppon the next Tuesday in this place and before the notable assembly of all my estates I will that euery man shall sweare vnto it to the end that none may heereafter pretend any cause of ignorance And our holy desires may not vainly be frustrate for want of meanes I determine to take such order therein by the counsell which you shall giue mee that as the desert shall not consist in mee it may not likewise proceede from the small assistance by you giuen therevnto whereby the effects of our desires may bee in force By my holy Edict of vnion all leagues but such as are made by authoritie from mee ought not to bee suffered and although it did not sufficiently forbidde the same yet neither Cod nor dutie doth permit it as beeing wholly against it for that all leagues associations practises deuises intelligences leuyings of men and mony and receits of the same as well within as without this Realme are actions of a king and in all well gouerned Monarches esteemed high treason if they bee done without the Princes authoritie And although by word of mouth thereby witnessing my accustomed clemencie in that respect to omit all forepassed faultes yet as dutie bindeth mee and you all to conserue the royall estate hauing taken order for the establishing of certaine lawes to bee made by my estates I will by these presents declare and from hencefoorth pronounce as guiltie of high treason all such my subiects as desist not from them or that in any sort dealeth therein without my authoritie and consent graunted vnder the great Seale of France Wherein I am assured that you will not faile to shewe your faiths and fidelities counselling and requiring at my handes to renue and fortifie this faire and auncient law ingrafted within the hearts of all true French men that defend the same which I will shall bee set downe in expresse words I am bound thereby both vnto my selfe and to my Realme and you to mee and to the state of the land which you now represent wherevnto in presence of the Almightie God I summon you all In times past the goodly order and exact pollicie obserued among our souldiers bredde and procured an admiration and terror of my nation togither with a particular and honourable glory to all our French Nobilitie Now therefore weed esire that the same honour wherewith wee haue beene admired aboue all nations may still bee maintained wherein I will spare no paines whatsoeuer and the like I craue of you whereby the wrath of God beeing appeased and that our forces may bee vsed to the preseruation and not to the destruction of our estate thereby procuring so much contentment and comfort to my subiects as that hereafter they may as willingly desire our souldiers both horse and footemen for their gifts as they now feare and abhorre them and that with great reason Lastly I am much greeued that I cannot maintaine my estate and royall dignitie with the necessary charges of this Realme without mony for mine owne particular it is the thing that least greeueth mee but
condition that for his part hee might haue the Marquisat of Saluce Prouence and Dauphine which the Duke of Guise would by no means consent vnto desiring rather to keepe the kingdome wholly for himselfe which was the cause that the Duke of Sauoy mooued at his aunswere sent Monsieur to the King at Chartres in the moneth of August to offer him all loue and friendshippe whereat the Duke of Guise beeing offended practised the saide intelligence and league graunted the Duke of Sauoyes request and the saide Duke of Sauoy was aduertised of of the resolution taken against the king in the Parliament at Blois to the end that for his part he might finde the meanes to dispatch his businesse at the same time wherein hee slept not forgetting neuerthelesse the promise made vnto his Maiestie and that of his owne free will for hee preuented the time of the execution thereof by the surprising of the Marquisate of Saluces which serued as a preparation to the conspiracie made against the person of the King as euery man iudged as beeing most easie to bee perceiued that the Duke of Sauoye who in regard of the puissance of this great Realme is but a meane Prince and hath la Bresse Sauoye and Piedemont so neare vnto the limittes of France that it laye in the kings power to bereaue him of the greatest parte thereof and that in very short time if hee were not ayded or that his Maiestie hadde not hinderances otherwise which made it apparant vnto all the worlde that hee enterprised not the taking of Carmagnolle Rauel and Saluce without assistance and that on the other side the king should bee retained and hindered from making warre against him although that after such hinderance hee might bee well assured that the Parliament beeing ended his Maiestie would recouer both his saide Marquisate of Saluce and wholly ouerrunne him if hee left not off in time For my part I haue heard it reported that this young Prince foreseeing Cadenti arbori securim in iecit A politicque maxime of Spaine Multa fieri prohibentur quae tamen facta tenent seeing the dissipation of our estate assured himselfe that it would bee best for him to bee the first at the dinision as sonne and husbande of two daughters issued from the blood royall of France and so goodly a peece of land lying in the middle of his countrie would bee sufficient cause to awake a man that were most sound a sleepe to mooue and heate the most colde and greatest Pollititian and that although there appeared iniustice in the action yet there would bee reason found to the possession thereof Concluding his determination by this maxime holden in Councell of Spaine That diuers thinges are forbidden which are good and hold steadfast beeing once done And to execute his pretence for the space of a whole yeare hee had solicited the Gouernour of the Citadell of Carmagnole who playing on both side on the one side tooke money of the Duke and on the other side hee aduertised the King thereof and wrought so well by that meanes that hauing gotten aboue fiue and twentie thousand Crownes hee withdrewe himselfe vnto the Court without deliuering the place which the Duke of Sauoye hadde bargained for who perceiuing himselfe deceiued and that the Barricadoes at Parris gaue the King worke in hand and more then hee could doo hee determined to surprise the Citadell of Carmagnole by the meanes of a Corporall called la Chambre whose treason beeing discouered and his fact once knowne hee was hanged by the feete in the Market-place of Carmagnole and then with all his confederates put to death as hee deserued but that notwithstanding the duke perceiuing the kings minde to bee otherwise occupied then to thinke vppon the Marquisat of Saluces hee leuyed great numbers of men Marquesse of S. Sorbin causing the Marquesse of Saint Sorlin to mount on horsebacke and vnder the pretence of a false report giuen out touching the besieging of Montferrat hee approached in so good time that vppon Al-saints day at night hee surprised the Towne of Carmagnole that for the most part was kept by souldiers of Piedemont And the Castle that hadde alwaies beene victualled for aboue the space of two yeares at that time was found wholly vnprouided because that Montseur de Saint Siluie that hadde succeeded in the place of la Coste hadde caused the victualles to bee carried foorth to haue some fresh in their place in such sort that the Captains fearing to indure great miserie and famine with small honour yeelded vppe that impregnable Fort wherein there was found aboue foure hundreth cannons Ordinance founde at Carmagnole great and little with great quantitie of powder and shotte and by that means the double Pistollets that flew about on all sides bare away the double cannons of this Frontier-Towne of France so that in lesse then threce weekes the Duke wanne all the Marquisats of Saluce and also the Captaines and Frenchmen souldiers retiring with liues and goodes saued drummes sounding and playing Ensignes displayed weapons in their handes but no matches lighted and without their paye of three moneths which the Duke had promised them by his agreement This victorie and conquest made the Duke holde vp his head and his seruants made him beleeue that although hee were forced to yeelde it vp again in the mean time he should enioy it and that it is good to bring things to passe when time and opportunitie serueth And for the same cause he made certaine peeces of mony of the value of a Duket to be minted stamped with the picture of a Centaure treading a Crowne of golde vnder his feete with this deuise Opportune The taking of the Marquesse of Saluce troubles the state Not long after the king receiued the newes thereof and considering the troubles distrusts and commotions practised by the League he imputed this surprising to a brauado togither with an euill will against the good and quietnesse of his estate and knew full well that the Duke of Sanoy beleeuing that the deuision of France would impart a peece thereof to euery man he went to take his part that rather for the scituation then any other right or title hee had vnto the Marquisate of Saluces thereby to ioyne it vnto Piedemont and that he had forseene that his Maiestie beeing hindered by quenching the fire that flamed within the heart of his Realme hee would not haue the meanes to ayde himselfe in his extreamities The full relution of the French Nobalitie to make warre in Sauoy Such as at all times had the flower deluce and the respect of the glory of France liuely imprinted in their hearts not beeing able to support the iniurie wrought in the presence of all the estates of France as then assembled in Blois touching the taking of a place which was the onely treasurie of the spoyles of such conquests as the Kings of France brought out of the countrie of Italie shewed the
which should be eyther vniuersall or nationall a most soueraigne and assured remedie prooued heretofore against more pernicious herefies then these of our time whereby the bodies of Common-wealths haue bin purged of their infected blood and filled againe with good and viguerous humours Chiections against the instruction asked by the king of Nauarre Others that commaunded both the minde of the king and all the estates said that trueth once debated and determined ought not to bee brought in question againe that it was no reason that the apperite of some newters that had withdrawn themselues from the common societie of the Church to play their parts alone and to induce the madnesse of their euill timbered braines should seeke to trouble all Christendome by assembling of a Councell the resolutions whereof can bee no other then those at other times assembled trueth hauing but one face And therefore counselled his Maiestie to prouide that his successour might bee of no other religion then his owne and to assure all his Catholicques therein that feared nothing so much as the establishing of the King of Nauarre in the succession of the Crowne of France The king had promised by his Estict to take an order touching his successor but at that age wherein hee liued and in the young and lustie yeares of the Queen his wife he hoped that God would blesse him with some masculine line that might auoyde the difference of those ambitious persons And therefore hee tooke no pleasure to heare any speech of that which in his minde seduced to imbase his authoritie and to make his graue before he was dead For that assoone as a Prince hath declared who shall bee his successor his testament is made and then in his Realme he is accounted but as the sun that goeth downe euery man casting his eyes vpon him that shall succeede It was a capitall offence in Rome to seeke to knowe what should bee done after the death of the Emperour and the Emperours of Turkie cannot indure the sight of the children their successors but send them farre from the Court and neuer see them but when they are first borne or else when they are circumcised There are diuers well gouerned peaceable Monarches wherein such are punished as are ouer serious to inquire what may happen after their Kings death The Parliament holden in England 156â— The Parliament of England that solicited the Queene to nominate her successor among those houses that aspired therevnto receiued no other aunswere from her but onely that shee was of opinion that they sought to make her graue before shee was dead And to cut off such seditious curiosities she caused an Act to bee made that no man should presume to speake or dispute of the succession of her kingdome Ne quis assirmet vel existimet vel coniectet cui nam regnandi ius debeatur The death of king Francis the first 1547. The iealousie of him that is to succeed is incredible and so much distrustfull that the father cannot indure the hope of his sonne the gold of this Historie is too weake therein to place the Orientall pearles which I finde in so many notable discourses that are made concerning this last motion hee that wrote the free and excellent discourse so called rehearseth this domesticall example of our kings that the great king Francis beeing weake and sicke in his Castle of Fontainbleau about the begining of the moneth of May in the same yeare that hee died his disease increased so much that they esteemed him eyther dead or that hee would not long continue aliue Wherevppon all the Court in great haste ranne to seeke the Dauphine prince Henry who for the same iealousie of succession durst not come in his fathers presence for the space of sixe or seuen yeares before in such manner that most of all the chiefe Courtiers had left the king euery man going to worship that new son Meane time the king recouered his health and his disease beeing somewhat cured there was a Procession to bee made which is yearely obserued with great solemnitie through out the Realme of France against which time the olde King rose vp and came out of his chamber his face and haires dressed and combed not as if hee had neither beene sicke nor aged withall putting on certaine youthfull garments and in that sort was present at the processions and beeing returned he vsed this speech I will once againe put them in feare before I die And it was true for suddainly the chance turned for that assoone as the news was spred abroad that the king had recouered his health all the Courtiers by degrees repaired vnto him much abashed and in great feare and then the Dauphine for his part was left as naked without company as his father had beene before There the king shewed himselfe like a king and so hee ought to behaue himselfe like a king Non legiones non classes perinde sunt firma imperii munimina vt numerus liberorum Tacit. But to the contrary the king not onely permitted a conference touching the succession but suffered his subiects to rise vp in armes for the triall thereof and that before all the assembly there should bee a proposition put forth touching the excluding of the lawful successor Is not this as much as if they should compel him to make his testament and to striue as though hee were at the poynt of death Wherein you may beholde the extremities of the League that seeking to ouerthrow the estate would beate down the supporters with al the Princes of the blood who being aliue it is vaine for them to seem to lay hold on the tree or once to digge the myne of their pretences for neither armes nor fortresses do so well defend and maintaine an estate as the number of children of the Princes familie which is the meanes to breake a perpetuall order of succession as long as they liue choaking the ambitious hopes of such as would ouer throw and subuert it Then the League can neuer attaine vnto the end of their course nor their forces remooue the Crowne of the branches of Valois and Bourbon to the house of Vaudemont if first they procure not the degrading of all Saint Lewis race Propositions made the fourth of Nouember 1588. The king to please the inraging appetites and desires of the League consented they shuld determine of that which the greatest part of the league had alrea die resolued which was the condemnation of the king of Nauarre it was first debated among the Cleargie where by them without great resistance it was determined that this Prince should be holde for an hereticque and their leader a Relaps excommunicated depriued of the gouernment of Guyenne and of all his honors vnwoorthie of all successions of Crownes and royalties which they appoynted to be signified to the rest of the estates the Archbishop of Ambrun the Bishop of Bazas the Abbot of Citeaux and other
for the space of certain time ther had bin some about him that most manifestly practised in his presence elsewher by their adherents to renue raise deuision to cause his actions to be disliked wholly to suppresse his authoritie neuerthelesse with great patience and calamitie hee had tollerated the effects of the euill will in those respects appeared to bee in them assaying by all the fauours and courtesies hee could deuise to mollifie their hearts and to drawe them vnto those things that concerned reason with the good profit of his estate and the conseruation of religion That this notwithstanding they not beeing disswaded from their pernicious deuises by the aforesaide effects of his good and holy intents neither yet by any other considerations his Maiestie had discouered that they had proceeded so farre as by new inuentions to enterprise against both him and his estate That to withstand the same to his great greefe hee had bin constrained to preuent their sinister dealings but that for the singular loue and good wil naturall in him and which hee hath alwaies continued and will continue vnto his said Catholicque subiects with like care of the quietnesse safetie and conseruation of their liues as much as any father towards his children Hee had therein vsed so much clemencie and moderation that hee had restrained and layde the paine and punishment onely vppon the heads and authors of the euill sparing their adherents and seruants and fauourably receiued admitted them among the rest of his good subiects vpon promise by them made from thenceforth to become his true and faithfull subiects That although not only by his actions past as by this last proceeding hee hath giuen and declared by euident testimonies of his holy intent and clemencie that no man ought to doubt neuerthelesse to make it more manifest to all his subiects his Maiestie declareth and protesteth that this which hath happened hath beene effected by reason of the preuentions vsed against his Edict of Iuly and since that time And in the execution of that which is contained therein his will and meaning is to keep and cause it to bee kept and to obserue and maintaine it from poynt to poynt for a lawe as it hath been established and sworne in the Parliament according to the forme and tenor thereof Forgetting and wholly remitting all whatsoeuer is or hath bin done against dutie and fidelitie by those that haue participated in the said practises vppon condition that heereafter they shall depart and wholly forsake all leagues associations practises deuises and intelligences with all persons whatsoeuer both without and within the Realme The practises against the Edict of vnion wherevnto the King referreth the cause and motion of the death of the Cardinall and the Duke of Guise are specified in the treatie written concerning the troubles that ensued this execution Causes of putting the D. of Guise to death The first that assoone as the edict of vnion agreed vpon within the Cittie of Roane was published in the Parliament-house the principall heades of the League in stead of causing their partakers to leaue their armes had entertained them with further hopes and meanes contrary to the Edict sworne summoning them to bee in a readinesse to effect a great exployt The second that they had determined to seize vpon the Kings person and to coÌ„strain him to dismisse his Councel whom they thought to be most faithfull vnto him and least affected to the aduancement of their intents and to bereaue him of his authoritie yea and of the name of a king The third their practises leagues and deuises to breake the libertie of the Parliament and to hinder them from consulting with the king touching the good of his estate and the quietnesse of his people hauing a great number of the Deputies so much affected to their pretences that they neuer assembled before they had first consulted with the Councell of the Duke of Guise touching their aunsweres propositions and resolutions The fourth the fained perswasions deuised against the good intents of the king to disswade him from the easing of the long oppressioÌ„s of his people the Duke of Guise on the one side counselling him not to imbase his authoritie so much as to depriue himselfe of the meanes to maintaine the glory of his Maiestie royall by reducing the tallages to a lower rate then was conuenient and on the other side hee perswaded and pricked forward his participants to craue it by that meanes to make his Maiestie odious among them by refusing the easing of his peoples oppressions or else to force him therevnto The sift the confirmation of the treaties and confederacies made with forraine Princes as the king of Spaine the Duke of Sauoy and Lorraine and the fiue small Cantons the leagues and intelligences with diuers Lords and Gouernours of Townes and Prouinces within the Realme all contrary to the Edict of vnion which they had sworne and promised so religiously to obserue A great person in our time in the second part of the Historie of the League Vulgus audacia turbidum nisi vim metuat The second discourse of the state of France noteth the vnrecouerable fault of the king after that action that busied himselfe to iustifie his pretence and to flatter the people who by lenitie become obstinate by seueritie are constrained This great tree ouerthrown saith he such as shadowed themselues thereby were for a time discouered and without doubt the Duke of Guise himselfe was all the League hee onely had more parts and valour then all his participants togither And if the king had beene resolute to go forward with his actions and not to doo them by halues as his maner was and if within two houres after the act performed hee had mounted on horsebacke and so had added his presence his forces vnto the feares of the townes that helde with the League abashed at that great accident it is very likely hee had auoyded the mischiefe which after fell vpon him But God that derided the vaine enterprises of the one mocked the remedies by the other prouided This Prince who neuerthelesse wanted neither iudgement nor courage had no sooner perceiued his enemie dead put presently perswaded himselfe to haue no more in all the world and certainly being among his familiars he vsed this speech saying This day I am king and yet to the contrary from that day forward his royall estate begane to decline Incauta semper nimâ—â— presumptio sui negligents Egesippus This presumptioÌ„ caused him to be so carelesse in his affaires that he lost Orleans which he might haue saued by shewing himselfe vnto it that he suffred the D. de Maine to come fortifie himself with men munitioÌ„ he laughed at those the moued him with al diligeÌ„ce to send for his armie that laye in Poitou hee was offended against such as counselled him at the same time to vse the ayde of the king that now is
in that imbarking he thought not vppon the stormes and tempests how hee might shunne them hee would thinke vppon them but too late when they might not bee auoyded when all the owers would bee broken and the waues strike against his vessell when danger shuld vanquish his art and necessity force his wisdome that of the wind of the peoples fauour which of long time hath bin disposed vnto rebellion and troubles maketh his sayles blow full that furiously he would thrust his pretences into the maine sea that neuerthelesse he oght to consider the vncoÌ„stancie lightnesse of the people who hauing shakeÌ„ off the yoak of the Vulgus infidum bonis Horat. Vnum imperij corpus vnius animo regendum videtur Tacitus kings obedience would do as much vnto a Prince to whom it shall not be bound but as to Proctor of their mutenie That there is nothing more vnconstant nor more disloyall then the common people traiterous to the good and dutifull to the wicked and that rewardeth those that do it good with ropes exiles and publike execration that in the ende after many attempts prooues of all sorts of principallities it wil alwaies return againe vnto the royaltie France not beeing able to indure the gouernment of two kings no more then the body two heads nor a ship two Pilots that France no more then the whole world without a generall consuming cannot indure two sunnes that the people continueth not long in their furie it loseth breath in the first setting forward Si duo soles velis esse pericuâ—um â—e in cendio omnia perdantur Serenus like a reed that beginneth with a long and straight pipe and suddainly it windeth and is crooked loosing the vigor that it shewed in the first part thereof The Duke de Maine beeing as then Maister either of his good fortune or ouerthrow held the conduction of the Leaguers affaires at his disposition and by a good resolution could revnite the Catholicques by his brother led astray but his passion leading him at her pleasure and that it represented vnto him the aduantage hee had to succeed in the fauours credite and authoritie of his brother and by consequent vnto his hopes hee reiected the aduise of good counsell and thinking that they sought his life determined the same day in all haste to depart from Lyons and went to Mascon and from thence to Chalons where hee assured himselfe of the citadell from thence he got to Dyon where he receiued letters from the king by the which the king assured him that hee desired to continue him in his fauour staying the punishment of things past vppon the death of his bretheren whom hee had put to death to saue his life whereof hee had aduertised him The Duke de Maine attributing the clemencie and fauour of the king to an affection languishing feeble and faint and to a feare he had to haue him for enemie or to loose his friendship not beeing able to moderate his chollor nor to incline himselfe vnto a generall and good ende hardened himselfe in his resolution receiued the pestilent breath of those mindes that bad framed themselues to tyrannie feared not the king and made lesse account of him then of the chaine of Tartaria While hee continued at Dyon he gaue out commissions to assure himselfe and to seize vpon diuers places and among the rest one of the Messieur de Rosne and de Saint Paul to commaund in Champaigne and Brye He had no great trouble to constraine them of Dyon to reuolt against the king bridling them by the Castle there was none but the Court of Parliament who perceiuing that they could not shine without the light of the authoritie royal that would not consent to that rebellion therfore the principal officers were driuen from thence the rest imprisoned some poore people fearefull for the discommodities they might reape remained in miserable slauerie vnder the confused and disordered democratie The kings Letters to the Duke de Maine From thence the Duke de Maine went to Troye a Towne long time before spoyled and corrupted by the participants of the Duke of Guise where hee was receiued with honours due vnto a king The king perceiuing that the league caused al the townes beyond the riuer of Loire Chalon sur Saone Dyon Troye Parris and Orleans to rise against him and that if hee sat with armes crossed it would not ease him was constrained to leaue the affaires of the Parliament vnperfect to prouide for the safetie of his person and to remedie the violent intents of his enemies and before the Parliament brake vp vppon the fifteenth and sixteenth daies of Ianuarie he heard the declarations of the Deputies of the third estates wherein may bee found the examples of the disorders which at this time trouble the Realme of France The Oration of the Archbishop of Bourges The Archbishop of Bourges President for the spiritualtie in the Parliament after the death of the Cardinall of Guise made a long discourse of the miseries and calamities that had continued for the space of eight and twentie yeares within the Realm of France touching the causes thereof assuring them that the despising of the name of God is the cause of our euil hauing broken the band that tyeth and vniteth vs vnto God that is religion which is the signer the band and foundation of all Monarches and Common-wealths Difference in religion That the diuision happened in the vnitie of this religion separating the hearts and minds of families and then of communalties hath produced this disorder that thereby they should haue seen nothing but fire and weapons throughout France nourisheth this long ciuill warre which to entertaine hath beene the meanes to seeke out so many prodigious inuentions to ouerthrow and spoyle the people by so many subsidies sale of offices belonging to iustice and treasures with the alienation of the sacred patrimonie of the Church The kings zeale to his religion That the king in his youth being adorned with so many victories obtained against schisme and heresie had giuen to vnderstand that the honour and glory of God and his religion was dearer vnto him then his own life ought not to permit that heresie should oppose it selfe against the true religion of him and his forefathers a new against the true alter and a king against his authoritie royall That hauing reestablished the assurance of the franchises of religion he ought with a care woorthieof a royall name to purge the disorders and the abuses which the corruption of this world hath induced into all estates Abuse in the Church in the house of God in the church in the Nobilitie in armes in Magistrates in iustice and in the people and on the one side shewing the disorders on the other hee applyeth the remedies and because the libertie of these last troubles hath increased them wee will present them like euill vlcers which spoyle this polliticque bodie and that will
and obedience made to Henry the third That the same people might lawfully and with good conscience arme and vnite themselues raise money and make contributions for preseruation and defence of the Romain Church against councels replenished with all flagition and the force of the king or his adherents whatsoeuer In that affirmed they hee had violated publike faith to the preiudice of Catholicque religion the Edict of sacred vnion and the naturall and proper libertie of the three estates of the Realme The king first imployeth his pen before he draweth his sword The king perceiuing that the greater mildenesse he vsed in reducing these errants into the right way the more they took bridle in mouth to run whither soeuer their violent passions would transport them scoffing at him and attributing that affection which he bore to revnite them to himself rather to a feare he had of either retaining them as his enemies or loosing them as subiects vsed his authoritie publishing throghout all the Prouinces diuers declarations of his intention as well against the Duke de Maine the Duke and Cheualier d'Aumale heads of the rebellion as likewise against the townes of Parris Amiens Orleans Abeuille and other their adherents He therefore accused them of attempt against his person of fellonie and rebellion hee denounced those heads and members all disloyall rebellious attainted and conuicted of the crimes of fellonie rebellion high treason to their chiefest head and disgraded them togither with their posteritie of all honours if within the space of one month they rendred not thēselues vnder his obedience The terme set downe was the beginning of March but seeing that instead of repenting themselues they committed so many the more outrages taking vp armes on all sides and that they practised out of the land seized on his treasure vnder colour of Lieftenants general of the estate cōfirmed pattents commissions vnder a new seale oppressed by incredible violatiōs diuers prouinces stript into their shirts many of his most faithfull subiects which would not adheare vnto them without intreating much more graciously others who had so greatly desired and laboured the league In briefe that they had vsurped all poynts and prerogatiues of his royall Maiestie except the name and title of king which they reserued to an other opportunitie He then resolued also for his part to put in readinesse an armie to suppresse these insupportable attempters And for performance of this he dispatched letters pattents for conuocation and assembly of his Nobilitie and martiall power Not long after ensued an other Edict of the kings by which he translated to the towne of Tours such exercise of iustice as was wont to be performed in his Court of Parliament of Parris inioyning them of that Court to repaire incontinently to Tours there to execute their offices He made the like transportatiō of his chamber of accounts to the same place and depriued Parris with the other townes of all offices charges dignities and priuiledges whom he would willingly haue made afeard and won vnto himselfe before comming to armes But all this was but a casting of oyle into the fire Exployts of the king of Nauar who came afterwards to be king The king of N. recouered of a daungerous disease hee had a little after the death of the Queen-mother determined for testimonie of his fidelitie towards the king to crosse as far as in him lay the diseignments of the leaguers hindring them from defacing any thing in those places which hee had meanes to assure as well for seruice of the king as for the reliefe of those of the religion Thus therfore he receiued into his protection those of S. Maixent Millezay he safegarded against the league Chastelleraut Loudū I le Mirebeau Viuonne other places adioyning Afterwards he set forward euen into Berry and tooke ouer the leaguers head the Towne and Castle of Argenton And beeing returned to Chastelleraut hee writ in the beginning of March ample letters to the three estates of France full of serious admonitions that they should giue ouer the League and aduertising them that if they proceeded in their euill counsels and determinations he was minded if the king so commaunded him to take the field with his friendes and followers hoping that God would giue him the grace to breake many of their deseignments and to cut them off from their affaires inuentions He took into his protection and safegard all such towns personages as would ioyne with him against the league promising that in the townes he would suffer nothing to be innouated neither in pollicie or church-affairs except on such considerations as shuld touch the libertie of euery one hauing learned said he for conclusion that the true and onely meane of revniting people to the seruice of God and establishing pietie in an estate is mildnesse peace good example not warre nor disorders through which wickednesse and vices spring vp in the world At the same time the Towne and Castle of Angiers were assured to the king but the Duke de Mercoeur brought almost all Brittaine in subiection to the partie of the league with which Roane Thoulouse Lyons were now ioyned and Bourdeaux wanted not much of doing the like but Marshal de Matignon was faithful to the king so that the leaguers and Iesuites were constrained to remooue from thence During these commotions debatement was made of a truce between the king Nauar to the ende they might more commodiously make head against the league Debatement of truce betweene the two kings which augmented euery weeke more more The K. minding to vse Na. forces without which hee could not doo much of himselfe offered and yeelded into his hand Saumur for securitie of his passage ouer Loire by means whereof in attending ratification of the truces the king of N. caused all his troupes to passe ouer on this side of Loire to ioine with the forces of Normandie Maine and other places which attended him with intention to approach the Leaguers and thus to ease them of the labour of comming any more to find him out in Gascon and Xaintongne as before they had don Afterwards the 18. of April he proclamed wars against them if they deferred any longer to lay aside armes But they shewed themselues as little moued with this as before by the kings letters patternts by which he translated the iustice iurisdictiō of the Great-maisters Inquisitors and Reformers generall which was wont to be held in the Pallas at Parris at the bench of the table of marble to his Court of Parliament not long since established at Tours An enterprise on the kings person by the league frustrated by the king of Nauars presence About the end of the same month he published an Edict declaring that al the mooueable immoouerable goods of the Duke de Maine of the Duke and Cheualier d'Aumale and of those which voluntarily dwelt and remained in the Townes of Parris Thoulouse Orleans
likewise followed by other Caualleries to the number of 300. and a company of harguebuziers both on horsebacke and a foote Sauenze cast before his harguebuziers placed his troupes of lanciers in wings and without shrinking one whit came forward Chastillon hauing made a stand placed his infanterie and made two strengths of his horse returning on his left hand Charbonniere and Haranbure with their companies of light horse afterwards hee receiued the charge wherevnto Sauenze ran brauely with a gallop of 30. paces long his harquebuziers on horsebacke hauing giuen their volley neare ynough Chastillions foote receiued them and after the first discharge of their shotte coupled with the horse the came to charge killing diuers horses with wounds they made in their flancks with swords without any losses on their own part more then of three souldiers Sauenze who skirtwise was opposed against the light horse made straight forward charging Chastillon with such furie as his first ranckes were broken he shocked born down to the earth with 8. or ten Gentlemen where there were but two or 3. lightly hurt and 20. or 25. of their horse slaine Chastillon his men recouered thēselues and fought couragiously on foote Surce Harambure and Fonquerolles charged so fiercely Sauenze and his men that they ouerthrew them and broke their array in such a sort as they were not able to revnite themselues togither again but were put to plaine flight and pursued more then 26. Gentlemen hauing beene borne downe dead to the earth in the field In the pursuite there was more then 60. slain al their harguebuziers that were left behind ouerthrown two Cornets won and fortie Gentlemen taken part of them beeing wounded and amongst others Sauenze who being conueyed to Baugency when his friends and familiars seeing him in danger of death admonished him to aske pardon at Gods hands to confesse and communicate himselfe as also to craue mercie of the king he could neuer be brought the revnto by any reason could be laid before him but died as a desperate man He bore in his Cornet the Crosse of Lorraine with a Spanish deuise in letters of gold Morir omas contento Oh rather content to die There was in this skirmish some 25. or 30. souldiers which in the ende of the fight were fallen into Chastillions hands who desired to saue them and yet they chose rather to be dispatched in the field then to sweare that they shuld neuer beare armes against the king all whose enemies at that instant come foorth of Picardie were then ouerthrown In the I le of France by the Duke of Longueuille at the siege of Sentys At the same time the town of Senlis besieged by the Parisians armie vnder the conduct of the D. d'Aumale hauing been furiously battered sustained and repelled a greeuous assault And as the defendants were minded to capitulate succour was brought vnto them by the Duke of Longueuille hee being followed by the L. of Boniuet Humieres la Noue and others Wherevppon battell ensued in which the assaylants were defeated about 1500. of them being slaine vppon the field in their flight and pursuite as well by the Conquerors as by the Pesants The league lost also therin their artillerie and all the baggage of their armie Afterwards the D. de Maine attempted to win this place by practise because it so highly imported him and by certaine treacherous Cannōs Priests Monks within the towne they entred in with 20. or thirtie Captaines at an instant set downe to cut off in the night a Corps de guard and to further on their owne behalfe and escalado his troupes approached verieneare and some there were that came euen to the ditch but the Corps de guard hauing then been lately relieued and keeping good watch they within durst not shew themselues and one without aduenturing to approach had his thigh brokē with a musket shot when the alarme being giuen the assaylants retired This wounded man beeing taken discouered the whole practises The entred Captaines with the traitors passed through the hands of the executioner and Senlis hath euer since perseuered in the obedience of the king The king approacheth neare Paris with an armed power The king incouraged by so many prosperous beginnings determined to go forward so that from the beginning of Iune to the middest of Iuly the war began to grow hot and the principall intention of the king was to kill those of Parris assuring himselfe that after hee should once haue tamed the great head of the league all the others would incontinently yeeld to the yoake and that he should recouer again which was maruellous straunge and difficult for him to wit the loue and obedience of his subiects who on the other part fearing him as much as they hated them practised also on euery side to maintaine their league and to remaine in their insurrections This implacable war against him was an occasion that in the chiefest towns but especially in Parris they spake not of this Prince but as of the most execrable tyrant that had euer beene in the world I and the Preachers solicited by certaine heades of the league and for this effect by them well payed with extraordinarie pensions animated all in generall each one in particular to run vpon him kill him in what maner soeuer it were promising vnto the tirannicides a place in Paradise aboue the Angels Furthermore they hotly and with diuers pollicies instigated a Moonke of whō wee will presently speake to performe a noble seruice to the league Thus therefore the King being approached Parris he planted himselfe near Parris wheras the Duke de Maine returned in hast from about Tours to oppose himselfe to the Duke of Longueuille was mightily hindered perceiuing himselfe to bee cut off in so many respects and by enemies so puissant His soldiers beganne to liue at pleasure within the towne the which the Parisians felt impatiently ynough but the meaner sort durst not complaine and for the great ones they put in practise the common prouerbe vpon an euill game a good countenance must bee set The king tooke incontinently Estampes Exployts to the disaduantage of the League In the meane while the Duke of Longueuille ioyning togither the troupes of Champaigne gathering to head in the confines of Chastillon vpon Seine the Switzers and Lansquenets which the Lord of Sancy conducted who had raised war against the Duke of Sauoy in the territories of Geneue and hauing there stayed him was marched into France He made of all this power a bodie of an armie of twentie thousand men or thereabouts Afterwardes hee went to passe the riuer of Seine at Poissy shewed himselfe before the king who laied batterie to Pontoise wherevppon the defendants yeelded themselues the day following being the 25. of Iuly to a composition of 200000 Crownes a deliuerie of the most seditious to the end they might receiue exemplare chastisement The K. afterwards followed by Nauar went to welcome
ouer one of the troupes the Earle of Soisson and the Duke de Longueuille ouer the other twaine The first day of Nouember all these subburbes were assaulted and taken in lesse then one houre with the losse of seuen or eight hundreth men on the defendants side They lost beside foureteene of their Ensignes and thirteene peeces of artillerie small and great The assaylants lost almost nothing at all and if the ordenance hadde beene well mounted the gates of Parris hadde beene battered downe eare the Cittizens hadde knowne of any such exployt The king entered within the subburbes of Saint Iaques about 8. of the clocke in the morning and beeing aduertised that the Duke de Maine was come foorth of Picardie and with all his forces hadde entered into Parris made a proofe to winne the other part of the subburbes which hee onely did to drawe his foes to the fight Hauing then stayed foure long houres in battell and that none of the leaguers would issue foorth hee contented himselfe that he had giuen knowledge to the Parisians that at the least meanes failed him not to chastise them but his desire was to winne them by gentlenesse to the acknowledgement of their faults Therefore without more adoo the king departed thence and lodged about sixe or seuen myles off at a place called Linats which is a Town aboue Montleheri where his grace stayed one whole day to see if his enemies had any desire to cometo fight But in stead thereof the leaguers did the woorst they could to the poore Parisians robbing and murthering many Housholders whom they accused to take part with the king which they did without pittying either sexe or age They massacred and drowned at that time a great number of men and women whom as I said they accused to fauour the kings forces hauing no colour at all of any such thing The king tooke within eight daies after both the Cittie and Castle of Estampes where hee receiued a supplication in writing from the Queene Dowager wherin shee desired iustice for the cruell murther committed on the person of the deceased king The which petition his Maiestie sent to the Parliament at Tours enioyning them to cause processe to be drawne against the offenders to the end that in his owne presence they might soone after receiue iudgement Moreouer the King added that for his part notwithstanding the iust sute prosecuted by the said Queene he would not faile to do the best that lay in him whereupon he vowed again in the presence of all the Princes Lords and Gentlemen which were about his royall person to imploy his whole power and strength vntill he had inflicted that iust vengeance which God had ordained him to take The Nobilitie also renewed their promise and protestations neuer to leaue off armes till they had reuenged the vilde death of the deceased King After this on the tenth of Nouember the King tooke his way to Beausse and on the morrow hee came to Ianuille from thence arriuing at Chasteaudun he caused Vendosme to bee summoned and to open the gates vnto him which is a Citie of his owne patrimony There was in that Towne one Benchard which held it against the king hauing therein the command of twelue hundred men Citizens and strangers and when they had chosen the fittest places for battery in the morning by breake of day the artillerie began to play vpon them The impatient souldiers did no sooner spie a breache in the wall of foure foote wide but presentlie they ran and entred it so that in lesse then halfe an houre they were maisters of the Castle into the which they made their first entrie and of the Cittie which was greatlie spoyled Then was Benchard and a seditious Fryer take and put to death who had beene the cheefe of this rebellion Sedictous persons put to death The morrow after the taking in of this Towne the King caused all the souldiers and men of warre to be sent from thence appointing that the inhabitaunts should there againe possesse theyr owne houses without any further raunsome Moreouer hee permitted that all their Cleargie men should bee placed in their former charges and benefices wherein afterward they liued more peaceablie without comparison then they did before vnder the League This example of iustice and mercie saued the liues of more then a thousand men For the people of foure or fiue small Villages which stood there round about who hadde protested to loose their liues in defence of the holy Vnion hereuppon became more wise and humblie submitted themselues in lesse then foure or fiue dayes to the Kings good and mercifull hands The Towne and Castle of Lauardin did first begin in those parts to shewe themselues obedient whereupon it followed that the Townes of Montoir Montrichard and the Castle of Loyer did the like who willinglie opened their gates to the Marshall de Biron The Kings entrance into Tours The King approached neare vnto Tours entered it the 21. of the same moneth and on the morrow he was ioyfully receiued by the Citizens and the whole Court of Parliament with all the honour and royaltie that could be imagined The same day the Ambassador of Venice had Audience who hauing presented his letters he made in the name of the whole estate of Venice an Oration of ioy and gladnesse for the happie comming of this King to the Crowne of France with offer of their seruice and friendship to the King and Crowne of France The King departed from Tours the fiue and twentieth of the same moneth The siege and yeelding vp of Mans and on the seuen and twentieth he came to a certain place neare to the towne of Mans which was besieged and battered the second day of December The Earle of Brissac which was come as farre as Bernard with two Regiments for to succour the besieged Towne of Mans beeing astonished at the noyse of the great Ordenance which played vppon the Towne retired with his troupes twelue myles backward And hauing taken fortie horse and certaine baggage belonging to the kings Kutters whom they met vnawares hee went to publish at Parris what a great victorie hee had obtained Meane while a great man of the league called Bois-daufin who had in Mans vnder his commaund an hundreth Gentlemen and twentie Ensignes of footemen requested parley instead of battell and so made himselfe readie to the assault but in fewe houres hee yeelded the place Albeit that within fewe daies before both hee and his made as though they would rather die in fight at once then they would giue enterance to the king This being done it was a straunge thing to consider what expences they had put the poore people vnto of whom they hadde receiued aboue fiftie thousand Crownes for the fortifying of the Towne and Subburbes in which Subburbes they had burned more houses then came to an hundreth thousand thousand crownes hauing also spoyled the countrie six times more to recōpence all which wrongs they
to order his battell The battell of Yurie and the kings notable exploicts And after they had cōmended all their successe vnto God he broke his fast and so about nine of the clocke in the foorenoone they were in the field readie to giue battell and the king beeing at the head of his squadron of which the first ranckes were composed of Princes Earles Knights and principall Gentlemen of the noblest families of France beganne to make his prayers vnto God with an exhortation that all the other squadrons should do the like Then passing along from the head of his armie hee encouraged his people to the fight And returning to his place without further delay he caused the great artillerie to bee shot off which gaue nine daungerous vollies to the great hurt of the leaguers Who after three or foure other vollies giuen on both sides aduanced forward fiue or six hundreth light horsemen to giue charge against the Marshal d'Aumont but he without stay ran vpon them and pearced thē in such sort that he might soone see their heeles In the mean space while they were thus busie the squadron of the Rutters which were on their right hand in comming toward the artillerie lighted vpon the Kings light horsmen aduancing thēselues against thē very manfully and being as valiantly receiued at last they were constrained to retire without performing any thing woorthie of memorie The whilest another squadron of launciers of the low Countries would haue giuen a fresh charge to these light horsemen But the Barron of Biron aduancing himselfe forward hauing no meane to meete the Vantgard set presently vpon the reareward and in breaking their array was hurt in two places The Duke de Montpensier ranne before the rest and gaue them a most braue charge in the which hee himselfe was once vnhorst but beeing againe mounted hee behaued himselfe in such valourous sort that he became Maister of the place The selfe-same the Duke de Maines great squadron consisting of eighteene hundreth horse among whom were the Duke of Nemours and the knight of Aumale with others of the Captains of the league aduanced themselues to the battel causing foure hundreth Carbines to march vpon their left wing who made a sallie of small shot some fiue and twentie paces from the kings squadron This sallie beeing ended the great squadron of the leaguers came on the forefront of the kings where they sawe his Highnesse before his company fiue long paces off who furiously rushed among the leaguers which could not by any meanes with all their huge forrest of launciers keepe backe the kings squadron But his Maiestie did in such warre like sorts assayle them that this great squadron was at last scattered hauing beene fighting among the thickest of them a good quarter of an houre In the end this huge heape of enemies who had thus the foundation of their strength abated were at last brought to hand-strokes who beginning to shrinke in the turning of a hand men might see their backes which before shewed such furious faces who tooke their flight by straunge passges This ioyfull victorie was at first intermixt with much sorrow in the royall armie when they saw not the king returne but within a while after they spied him comming all stained with the blood of his enemies not hauing shed one drop of his owne whom they described onely by the great plume of white feathers which hee bore in his creast and that which his Palfraye had on his head There was not so much sorrow among the leaguers for their losse but there was as much ioy recouered on the kings partie hauing been so happily returned from such an intermixture of blood and death But as hee came from the chase of his enemies with twelue or fifteen of his followers hee chancst to meete betwixt two companies of the enemies Switzers three cornets of Wallons accompanied with other that had ioyned with them whom his Maiestie charged with such high courager that hee wonne their colours they which carried them lying dead in the place with many other of their companions The king then beeing arriued at the place from whence he parted all the armie gaue humble thanks to the Lord for his safetie crying with one voyce God saue the king His Maiestie hauing set in order certaine of his troupes and seeing his enemies flying before him hee left the field surcharged with their dead so that there remained none aliue sauing the Switzers who beeing forsaken by their horsemen did notwithstanding stay without mouing and althogh the king might well haue ouerrun them yet hee receiued them to mercie who hauing cast down their weapons were discharged and sent into their own countries The Frenchmen also which were mingled among them had their liues saued This beeing done the king accompanied with his horsemen and the troups of Picardie followed the league which tooke their flight two waies In the one was the Duke of Nemours Bassompierre the Vicount of Tauannes Rosne and others which tooke their way to Chartres In the other the Duke de Maine with his most trustiest Captaines drew toward Yury to passe ouer the riuer The Leaguers artillerie and all their baggage were left in the campe and in the high-waies neare adioyning The time which the king spent in receiuing and sending away of the Switzers gaue leisure vnto them that fledde to put themselues vnder couert in such sort that comming vnto Yuri they perceiued that the Duke de Maine was alreadie entered who neuer thinking on any new charge broke vp the bridge before his owne people were all come which was the cause of the death of a great number of his armie especially of the Rutters of whom a great sort were drowned The others to hinder those that followed them stopt vp the streetes of Yuri with dead and wounded horses which stood in stead of chaines or inclosers whereof followed a new losse for all those that sought to passe the deepe streame perished for the most part The king was counselled to passe the riuer at the sord of Anet and although it were an houre and an halfe losse of his way yet hee ouertooke a great number of those that fledde which for their liues rested at his discretion Those that thought to escape putting themselues into the woods fell into the Pesants hands which handled them in cruell sort This pursuit continued euen to the Towne of Mant where neither the Duke de Maine nor any of his turned once their face to see who pursued them But if the Mantois had continued in their first opinion to keepe the gates shut all those that fled had beene vtterly ouerthrowne But beeing in the end ouercome by the D. de Maines earnest intreaties they gaue them leaue to enter the Towne vpon condition that those of his side should passe by tenne and tenne in the night beyond the bridge which indeed wrought their safetie The king seeing his enemies ouercome both with shame and losse rested himself
hereby preuented being also depriued of the plain of the Isle of France by the taking in of S. Dennis Now vpon intelligence giuen to the Duke de Maine that the extreame want of victualles would constraine Parris verie shortly to yeelde vnto the king answered that the taking thereof should bee very preiudiciall vnto him who would scatter his armie by that conquest in such sort that soone after the league should make a good match thereof But the kings minde or intent was not to possesse Parris in such sort as his enemies imagined For although the same were in a manner vnpossible by reason of the smal number of his people yet would he not see and behold much lesse procure the ruine of his chiefe and capitall Cittie although that many therein especially the chiefest deserued for their offences most greeuous punishment Hee tooke much pittie on the great number of people misled by euill counsell and hoped that their afflictions would giue them warning that if the Dukes of Maine of Parma comming to their succors would hazard themselues to a battell their discomfiture would constraine the besieged to acknowledge it But the miserie of the Parisians was so great that some of them were inforest to yeelde the other would rather indure an hundreth deathes by famine So that within twelue or fifteene weekes there was an extreame desolation among them They eate vp both their mooueables and their mony The souldiers had license to bee so bold that they broke vp their walles and defiled the chastitie of many families The principal men of the League rose vp and tooke to themselues the relicques of their Churches The anucient Iuels and the Crownes of the kings of France were put in the font Those householders which were rich were subtilly spoyled the subburbes ruined the Cittie become full of sorrow and need the rents of the chamber of the Cittie lay dead the lands all about vntilled and desolate An hundreth thousand persons died with hunger with nakednesse with pouertie in the streetes and in the Hospitals without all mercie or reliefe in the space of three moneths The Vniuersitie was conuerted to a desart place wherevnto all the Pesants resorted for lodging and the Cloisters of the Colledges were conuerted into stables for beasts VVithin the great hall of the Pallace there was none found but Leaguers and forgers of newes In the streetes grasse did growe plenteously and the shoppes for the most part were shut in continually In stead of Chariots and Coches appeared on the one side certaine troupes of men of warre who were more imployed to fight with hunger then with any other enemie on the other side an horrible desolation The besieged could by no meanes come by victuall but through the mercie of the Kings Garrisons which hee had set within Saint Dennis in the Fort of Gourney at Cheureuse and at Corbel The most part of the furie of this famine fell vpon the third estate as for the Cleargie who for the most part were well prouided they preached nothing but patience And the Prelates before mentioned vttered still vilde things against the king and his followers and in all their sermons assured the poore famished people that the Spanish succours would come very speedily On the one side those whom they called the sixteene on the other the fortie with the factious sort that wore long gownes wrought in the wheel The Parliament which continued as it were slaues both to the Spaniard to the Guise published an Edict the fifteenth day of Iune wherin it was prohibited vnto all of what estate quallitie dignitie and condition so euer they were not to speake of any composition with Henry of Bourbon on paine of death but thereby were inioyned to oppose themselues against him by all the meanes they might and not to spare any practise whatsoeuer ye◠though it were to the very spilling of their heart bloods Moreouer this court ordained that all the Inhabitants of the Towne should bee obedient to the Duke of Nemours Gouernour of the I le of France in all things which they should bee commaunded to do on his behalfe and that this Edict should bee read and published throughout all the streets and lanes of Parris to the end that more should pretend cause of ignorance But the people who could not liue by paper nor the windie promises of the Duke de Maine and his Preachers after they had eaten dogges and cats horses asses mules hearbes rootes and all that they could imagine to get in their necessitie came in a shole to the Pallace requiring peace of the councell there assembled where they made among them a certaine tumult but the Captaines who were before aduertised of their comming at last appeased The Parifiās desire peace and cannot obtaine it them the people beeing content by the meanes of certaine small comforts for the space of nine or tenne daies but in the end there assembled to the same place a greater troupe of people then before euery one prouided with weapons boldly demaunding that they might either haue peace or bread Then a certaine Captaine of Parris named le Glois ranne foorth vnto them to send them away with faire words but it is to bee remembred that famished bellies haue no eares VVherevpon they required him in the field with his own Oration where hee was so beaten that within a small time after hee departed the world The Cheualier d'Aumalle beeing followed by his adherents went among the multitude causing all the gates of the Pallace to bee shut and imprisoned a great number of them of whome there were some afterward hanged The chiefe of the leaguers perceiuing that in the end the discontented multitude would worke their confusion if in time they did not preuent them The chiefe of the league seeketh to de ceiue both the king and the people assembled themselues togither with the principall of their Towne and after many writings notwithstanding the diuision of the Sorbonnists and the act made in the Leaguers Parliament were resolued that the Bishoppe of Parris and the Archbishop of Lyon should go to seeke out the king to conferre vpon means of pacification This was done in the beginning of August but before they departed they would haue leaue of the Legate to the end they might not be excommunicated by the Pope Before they had obtained it the Legat made a consultation with Panigarde Bellermin and Terius Rector to the Iesuites comprised in these articles that is to say If the Parisians did runne into excommunication being constrained by famine to yeelde themselues to an hereticall Prince If the Deputies going to such a Prince to seeke his conuersion or to better the condition of the Catholicque Church were comprised in the excommunication of the bull of Pope Sixtus the fift The Doctors answered to these articles no. Deputies of the leaguers sent to the King and his aunswere Then went the Deputies to seeke the king at Saint Anthonies in the
lodging and aboue sixe hundreth of the leaguers slaine without any losse except fiue souldiers and about eighteene or nineteene hurt And hauing knowledge that the Leaguers intent was not to fight but to retire they followed theÌ„ the more close shutting vp all their passages as well to preuent the bringing of victuals as their escape for which there was good reason Vppon the riuer their ships and vesselles were beaten part whereof was taken and part suncke by the Holanders By land they were inclosed in their campe intrenched and fortified yet would they not issue foorth although the necessitie of victuals was extreame great among them and that all warrelike order shewed their insufficiencie They were moreouer intrenched within a wood where also two thousand Spaniards and VVallons were lodged to intercept the kings passage who neuerthelesse in the sight of their enemie broke throgh their trenches where all this great troupe was ouerthrowne except some fewe which by their swiftnesse tooke the groues beeing more amazed then desirous to reuenge The daies following they continued their chasing by skirmiges till the tenth of March at what time the king after hee knew where they pitcht their campe chose out such forces as hee thought necessarie and set vppon them by fiue of the clocke in the morning within a quarter which the leaguers supposed most strongest There was ouerthrowne without any great resistance twentie two Cornets of horsemen It is thought that it was there where the Duke of Parma had his arme hurt with a musket shot other say it was done in the former charge Howsoeuer it were the Leaguers lost at the same time two thousand horse which by the victors were carried away with all their baggage leauing slaine vpon that place more then two thousand and fiue hundreth men and many taken prisoners They retired towards Fescamp where hauing within fewe dayes selt the force both of hunger and thirst at last they fledde shamefully toward Parris and from thence to Brie at last they came to Artoys wherwithin few months the Duke of Parma with his troupes melted like waxe in the sunne Sfondrate sawe his people also confounded Roane beeing brought to great extremitie bought of Villars his Rotelier the corne hourded vp in his Garners whereof hee made a maruellous masse of treasure which hee imployed for a small space till such time as hee was slaine by the Spaniardes neare vnto Dâ—rlans Thus was France the thirde time deliuered out of the handes of herenemies Those of the house of Guise and other chiefe Captaines of the League that sought new troubles being nothing sorrie for the Duke of Parmas ill successe set themselues with the Spanish Agents to get into their handes newe bags of Spanish golde in consultation touching the assembly of their estates to the end to elect a King or a Queene to wit the king of Spaines daughter who was to marrie with one of the principall Leaguers And although the Duke de Maine wrought with the others in the same wheele yet had hee a contrarie intent As for the most part of the Parliament of the leaguers of Parris and the third estate they all desired peace and some end of these troubles The Leaguers forces in diuers parts In many other parts of the Realme and namely in Languedoc and Brittaine the Dukes of Ioyeuse and Mercoeur two principall Leaguers continued their warre doing great domage to the Kings subiects In Iuly the Duke de Maine tooke Ponteau de Mer while the king practised his enterance into Paris which as then found no good successe beeing broken off by the Marshall de Bâ—rons death who was slaine by a cannon shotte at the siege of Espernon On the other side the Duke of Nemours purposed the building of a little Monarchie at Lyons being possessed by intelligence of the Citie and Castle of Vieruâ— which were solde vnto him Hee attempted to do much more by helpe of the forces comming from Sauoy but in vaine at that time The King was very watchfull to preuent the enterance of forraine forces giuing order within his Realme for all his most vrgent affaires distributing his troupes heere and there in places most conuenient And for as much as his Nobilitie had been greatly hazarded at the siege of Roane and in the seruices following hee dismissed a great many and retained a certaine number of the most deliberez Others which went farre off to assayle the League in diuers places perished for the most part The Spaniards which were very curious to recouer their great losses with some memorable act some certaine monthes after the The spoyle of Bayonne attempted in vaine by the Spaniards Duke of Parmas discomfiture they attempted the taking of Bayonne by the helpe of a puissant armie which came vnto them as well by water as by land Long time before this the Gouernour of Fontaraby had from his Maisters intelligence that a Doctor of Phisicke called Blancpignon had often receiued letters in couert termes to further the Spaniards affaires consisting in the surprising of the Cittie and the expulsing of all the kings officers and seruants in the same This Doctor conferred with a Spaniard which had long time dwelt in that Towne and those two brought their treason to such a poynt that a fleet of certaine ships and an armie by land were made readie for the executing of their purpose But God would that the Lacquey which was sent to Fontaraby with letters speaking of Phisicke and curing of the sicke was taken by the Lord de la Hilliere Gouernour of the towne who hauing with all speede apprehended the Doctor and the Spaniard in fewe houres preuented all their mischiefe But that which hee had deliberated heerevppon which was to giue a strappado to the enterprisers could not bee performed because of the obstinate resolution of the Spanish prisoner who would not write such letters as was of him required but rather chose to die then to set pen to paper for the intrapping of his countri-men and heerevpon with the Doctor hee was beheaded whereof followed the discipation of the Spanish armie Amblize and the Leaguers of Lorraine ouerthrowne by the Duke of Bouillon In the month of October the Duke of Bouillon Marshall of France ouerthrew before Beaumont the Lord of d'Amblize high Marshall of Lorraine and the Dukes Lieftenant generall accompanied with two thousand foote and eight hundreth horse Amblize was himselfe slaine in the field with more then seuen hundreth others his artillerie won all his Cornets and Ensignes taken and foure hundreth Launce-knights sent away vnarmed The Duke of Bouillon did this valerous exployt with foure hundreth horse and two harquebuziers But this was much to bee noted hee lost not in all that fight any one man of account and beeing himselfe something hurt hee left the pursuite of his foes to his Lieftenants who beeing ayded by a sallie of shot comming out of Beaumont they made a happie ende of their prosperous beginning That also which
finally had indeuoured to kill the king by the meanes of Barriere who was executed at Meleun as hee deposed a little before his death These considerations were cause that the first resolution taken by the Vniuersitie of Paris since the Citties reduction was to require the banishing of the Iesuites To this effect a supplication was presented to the Court of Parliament who hauing a certaine time despised the authoritie thereof in the end constrained by an act made the seuenth of Iuly containing that the indightment which was to be giuen against them should be heard the Monday following in a publicque audience to be iudged in open field they did that day entertaine their Aduocates and men of law in the great chamber before the audience were readie who did declare that to defend the cause on their behalfe he was constrained to say many hard things against diuers that were knowne to bee the kings true seruaunts and for this occasion they requested that the cause might bee pleaded within doores This deuice was made to hinder the people from the cleare knowledge of the corrupt and pernicious purposes of the Iesuites pretending to make all Europe subiect to the Spaniards but for as much as they had obtained their request this inuention had no such successe as they looked for For all their pleadings which were done close within doores was afterward openly published in print where the Aduocates of the vniuersitie men learned and deepely affectioned to the Romaine Church did particularly represent and discouer to the full the horrible wicked and insupportable malice of that sect But the deciding of the matter was suspended Gods prouidence reseruing the same to an othertime which came sooner then many looked for The Spaniards being desirous to continue the fire of discention in France instantly solicited the Duke de Mercoeur Warres in Britaine one of the chiefe of the league and an vsurper of a part of the Duchie of Brittaine alwaies to continue warre His sister Loyse of Vaudemont king Henry the thirds widdow did all shee might to make his peace Certaine troubles hapning in the meane time broke all that was done The Spaniards which were Maisters of Blauet a Fortresse almost inuincible had builded during the Sommer of the yeare 1594. a strong Fort neare vnto Croysil to stoppe◠he enterance to the port of Brest which would haue beene better for them if they had made another right against it and on the other side of the hauen Sir Iohn Norris Captaine Forbisher To hinder them came the Marshall d'Aumont and S. Iohn Norris Generall of the Englishmen to whom was sent a supply by sea vnder the conduct of Captaine Forbisher they soone became Maisters of Quimpercorencin and of the Towne and Castle of Morlay Soone after they assailed the Spaniards new fort and slew foure hundreth souldiers that kept it not without losse of their own men among other the said Forbisher The king on the other side deliberating to make war out of his own realm against the Spaniards agreed with the States of Holland and their confederates to beginne in the Duchie of Luxembourg where the Marshall of Bouillon who married one of the daughters of the deceased Prince of Orange and Earle Philip of Nassau assayed to enter in the moneth of October where they found all the passages shut vp and Earle Charles of Mansfield making head against them especially on the troupes of Holland The king on the other side sought to ouerrunne the frontiers of Picardie and gaue the estates of Artois and Hainaut to vnderstand that if they fauoured him so little to suffer the Spanish forces to molest Cambray and the countries adioyning that hee would then make warre vppon them incontinent This message beeing sent in writing from Amiens by a Trumpetter about the midst of December the estates knew not what to say vnto it and before they would make answere they opened the matter vnto the Arch-duke Ernest the king of Spaines Lieftenant in the lowe Countries whom they intreated that the warre might not continue perceiuing the desolations that were like to follow therevppon and that which had alreadie afflicted them but this Prince who deceased shortly after could neither doo any thing for himselfe nor in their behalfe The seuen and twentieth of December as the king was returning from Picardie to Parris readie booted and spurd within a chamber at Louure hauing about him his cousins the Prince of Countie the Earle of Soissons the Earle of Saint Paul and thirtie or fortie other Lords Gentlemen of his Court there came also in the Lords of Ragne and Montigni who had not as yet taken their leaue of his Maiestie And euen as hee was receiuing them Iohn Chastill attempteth to kil the king hurts him in the mouth and is for the same put to death and in Princely manner kissing them for his farewell a young stripling named Iohn Chastill of a small stature and about eighteene or nineteene yeares of age a Drapers sonne of Parris who was slid into the chamber among the preace drew neare vnto the king before hee was almost perceiued of any bodie and suddainly would haue smote him in the bodie with a knife which hee had in his hand but by reason that his Ma. was verie readie to take vp the Lords which were on their knees before him in his stooping hee strooke him in the face on the vpper iaw on the right side therewithall cutting out one of his teeth Presently this miserable catiue was taken and after hee would haue excused the deed incontinent vppon examination hee confessed the whole trueth voluntarily and without compulcion The king commaunded the Captaine of his guard that had taken him after that hee had throwne his knife to the ground to let him go saying that hee freely forgaue him But afterward vnderstanding that he was a scholler to the Iesuites he said And must it needs be that the Iesuites should bee confounded by my mouth This Parriside beeing brought vnto the Bishops prison freely declared the circumstance of his euill intent discouering many of the Iesuites secret practises Among many other things hee remembred that he heard the fathers of that holy societie say that it was lawfull to kill the king that hee was excommunicate out of the Church that hee was not to bee obeyed nor to be taken for their king vntill such time as he was allowed by the Pope The Court of Parliament cōdemning this Chastil of treason in the highest degree caused him honourably to be brought naked in his shirt before the principal gate of the Cathedrall Church in Parris holding in his hand a taper of waxe lighted of two pound waight and there on his knees to confesse and declare that most wickedly and traiterously hee had attempted this most inhumane and most traiterous parriside hauing hurt the king with a knife in the face That by false and damnable instructions hee had maintained by argument that it was lawfull to
kill these kings and that king Henry the fourth at that present raigning was not of the Church till such time he was allowed by the Pope of all which hee repented himselfe asking forgiuenesse of God of the King and of the lawes which done hee was conueyed vnto the place of execution carrying in his hand the murthering knife wherewith hee intended to murther the king the which was there first cut off his flesh puld off with hotte burning pincers hoth from his armes and thighes after that his bodie was drawne and halde in peeces with foure horses and his quarters cast into the fire and consumed to ashes and the ashes scattered in the winde Moreouer by the same act of Parliament it was forbidden to all persons of what estate condition or quallitie soeuer they were on paine to be punished as traitors to say or publish in any place whatsoeuer the aforesaid slaunder to witte that the king was not of the Church till hee had the Popes allowance or approbation or that it was lawfull to kill the kings By which they Henry 3. Henry 4. vnderstood kings that were not authorised by the Pope In what reputatiō were the Iesuites before the first Parliamēt in Frāce The Court hauing declared the said reports to be scandelous seditious contrarie to the word of God and condemned as false and hereticall by all holy decrees Ordaining also that all the Priests and Schollers of Clermont Colledge and all other of the same societie of Iesus to bee held and reputed as corrupters of youth disturbers of the publicke peace enemies to the king and the estate to auoyde within three daies after the proclamation of the said Edict out of Parris and all other places and Townes where their Colledges are and within fifteene daies after out of the kingdome on paine that being found or taken after the said time prefixed to be punished as guiltie of the said crime of treason That their goodes mooueable and immooueable shall be forfeited and imployed as the said Court shall giue order Forbidding moreouer from thencefoorth all the kings subiects to send their children to any Colledges of that societie out of the kingdome to bee their instructed or trained vppe on the same paine to bee punished as guiltie of high treason This Edict was pronounced to Iohn Chastel executed on thursday the 29. of December During the imprisonment of Chastel some of the Deputies of the Court which were sent to search the Iesuites Colledges hauing seized vppon many papers found among them certaine written bookes made by a Iesuite Priest named Iohn Guignard since the generall pardon giuen by the King to the people of Parris there was written in these bookes many vilde matters both against Henry the third deceased as against Henry the fourth now liuing containing nothing but traiterous practises among the rest these words were found The king was born at Bern for which cause they cal him Bernois That the Bernois being now conuerted to the Catholicke faith was more gently vsed then he deserued that if they would inuest him with the royall Crown they shuld do it in some wel reformed couent wher hee might doo penance for all the euils which hee hath done in France that thankes might be also giuen to God for that hee had giuen him grace to acknowledge his wickednesse before his death That if he might not be deposed without war they ought to war against him and to kill him if he did not otherwise That the Crowne of France ought to be transferred to an other familie then that of Bourbon That Iames Clement did an heroicall act in murthering Henry the third The Court hauing seene such writings sent for Guignard before them who auouched all he had written by meanes whereof he was found guiltie and condemned to be hanged to death which thing was executed the seuenth of Ianuarie Peter Chastel father to Iohn and Iohn Gueret Schoolemaister or Tutor to the young traitor were the same time banished the father for a certaine time out of Parris the tutor for euer out of the realm not to returne on paine of death Moreouer the father was condemned to pay for a fine 2000. Crowns and commadement giuen that his house shuld he puld downe to the ground and a stone piller set in the place where it did stand with an inscription of the cause wherfore it was thus raced The court at that time did again looke ouer Peter Barrieres iudgements wherin the wicked counsel of Varade a notable Iesuite was more throughly marked who had principally and more then any other induced Barriere to kil the K. whom he called tyrant It was also testified that two Switzers passing by Besancon a fewe daies before Chastelles deede was attempted did meet two men attired like Iesuites who said one to the other for shortly the king of Nauarre shall bee either slaine or hurt which deede they esteemed most meritorious in the kingdome of heauen It was also noted that a Iubelie had bin published at Rome which the kings enemies called a peece of ordenance to confound the Bernois as if it had been a good worke the same was also vnderstood by the Spaniards lately arriued in Brittain to succor the rebels This was also hoped for by the Iesuits namely by those that were at Paris some of whom as their Colledges were inuironed about with watchmen incontinent after the king was hurt cried at their gates to their companions in these words Surge frater agitur de religione There were also found among these Iesuites many Anagrames against the king and certain rimes made in their Chases wherof the argument was to suffer death constantly and to assaile the tyrants Againe there was it found that the Maisters of the Colledges of Clermont depriued and forbad the Schollers at any time to pray for the king since the yeelding of Parris to his Maiestie saying that all such as went to heare his Masse were excommunicate Moreouer it was prooued and iustified against an other Iesuite a Scotchman named Alexander Haius that hee taught the people publickly that they might dissemble and obey the King for a time oftentimes faintly speaking these words Iesuita est omnis homo This Iesuite was also charged that he had oftentimes vsed these speeches that if the king did at any time passe before their Colledge that hee would fall out of the window vpon him to the end he might breake his necke On these accusations his inditements being drawne and that his words were found to bee spoken before the yeelding of Parris the Court did onely banish him out of the Realme of France for euer It appeared also by other informations sent from Bourges made the seuenth of Ianuarie that one named Francis Iacobe a Scholler of the Iesuites at Bourges vanted that he wold kill the King but that he thought he was dead alreadie thinking that an other had done the deed In consideration of these matters aforesaid and other prooues
hee hauing committed so many hainous acts against the Crowne and his soueraigne Lord that hee was vnwoorthie too bee esteemed the kings subiect but to receiue punishment according to his deserts blaming the kings too much gentlenesse therein to whom might bee applyed that which was of olde time spoken of by Charillans who being greatly praised for his courtesie equally shewed to all was thus answered by Archidamidas the Spartane that such a Prince deserued small praise that shewed himselfe fauourable to wicked persons But such matters pertaines to other discourses and not to bee intreated of in so briefe a collection as this is Vpon this receiued grace the Duke de Maine wrought the yeelding vp of Soisson Pierfont and other places to the King Now among all the chiefe leaguers there onely remained the Duke of Aumale who had not time ynough to make his peace with the King The Duke of Aumale executed in his picture Things fell out so contrarie on his side that lawe was prosecuted against him in the Parliament of Parris which found him guiltie of treason in the highest degree so that his image or likenesse being made it was drawne in peeces with foure horses and his goods and lands confiscate to the King It hath been said that his faire house at Annet was iudged to be raced to the ground and the woods all about the same cut downe in detestation of the said Dukes treasons But this article was not executed This Duke of Aumale went since that toward Albert. Cardinall of Austridge came into the low Countries to succeed in his brothers charge who was Arch-duke of Ernest of whō he was honourably receiued and royall entertained so that he might say with the renowmed Greeke I was lost if I had not been lost and since he hath made sore warres against the Frenchmen Certaine members of the league as some of the sixteene of Parris diuers principall Councellours and Agents of that side togither with some Preachers and seditious writers durst not shewe themselues knowing lawe to bee proceeded against them Th. Towne of Fere besieged While the Cardinal of Austrige made his voyage from Spaine into Italie to become Gouernour to the low Countries taking with him Philip of Nassau Prince of Orange who had a long time beene kept prisoner among the Spaniards the King besieged Fere the onely place possessed by his enemies in Picardie before the taking of Capelle Chastelot Cambray and Dourlans hee set there all the succours that could enter in where a great number of Spaniardes were slaine then gaue he leaue to the most part of his horsemen to refresh themselues because the Earle of Fuentes hauing set garrisons in the Towns for a new conquest was retired into Hainaut The king being willing more and more to plant quietnesse in his realme made an edict the same time whereby all persons that were fled might returne againe to their lands and houses where their passed faults should neuer bee sought after but wholly forgiuen those onely excepted that were confederates in the murther of the deceased king In middest of these matters Ossat and Perron the Kings Agents towards the Pope demanded and obtained a bull of absolution hauing aforehand made all the submissions obeysances and accustomed reuerences promising that the King had performed the penance and accomplished the conditions to him prescribed This bull was committed to Alexander d'Elbene to bee carried into France to bring thereby in the kings behalfe confirmation and approbation of all that which had been done by his Agents one of the which namely Ossat for recompence of his seruices wonne a Cardinals Hat Perron being but a Ministers sonne in the Lord of Bearns land became by his worthy seruices Bishoppe of Eureux a Courtly Poet and a new Diuine was sent with good hope to see that hee should continue as hee had begunne that is to say to oppose himselfe against those of the religion and to drawe by his example all other that hee might by their praaching and writing to maintaine the vocation and doctrine of their Ministers and the publicke articles of the inreprehencible perfection of the Romaine Church Hee was carefull to keepe promise vnderstanding that the Pope had an eye ouer him The estates of Picardie In the moneth of Nouember the King assembled within Amiens all the estates of Picardie of Boulongne Vermandois and Thierafche to take counsell for the affaires of Prouence Certaine Captaines were there beheaded hauing been by their couetousnesse cause of all the losses afore mentioned The siege of Fere continued those within it being more restrained yet neuerthelesse resolued to hold the same to the vttermost poynts of extremitie The garrisons of Peronne Amiens and other places that held for the King beganne againe in Ianuarie their former courses against the enemies countrie still killing and sleying certaine Spaniards and Wallons The king was at this time in great care touching the countrie of Prouence by reason that a man of great authoritie named Casaux commanded within Marseille who made means to the Spanish king that this goodly Towne might bee solde vnto him Charles Dore of Geneua was now approaching with certaine gallies for the Spaniardes The Duke of Guise drew also neare with certaine troupes but knowing well Casaux euill will toward him retired to the port of Thoulon where a farre off he thought on such affaires whereof proceeded the death of the said Casaux who was suddainly stabbed as he was going forth of his owne lodging to runne toward one of the gates which they were readie to open to the Frenchmen the sixteenth of Februarie The Duke of Guise his troupes beeing mingled among the rest in the Cittie was cause that all the Spaniardes with their adherents ranne their waies Marseille brought to the kings subiection Thus was Marseille deliuered out of their hands and brought to the kings subiection togither with all other villages thereabout that might any way annoy them The arriuall of the Cardinal of Austriche in Flanders caused the King to summon the Nobilitie of Picardie and Normandie to be present in the Towne of Guise there to be readie according as need required There he forbad by an expresse proclamation the transporting of gold or siluer coyned or otherwise out of his realme In the beginning of March the Cardinall gaue such order that the besieged within the Towne of Fere were succored with some munition And for his first exployt against The Cardinall of Austriche releeueth Fere winneth Carl◠and Ardres with maine force France in the beginning of Aprill did so dispose of his armie at that time most mightie so dexteriously secretly that in few daies he besieged assailed and with plain force won the town and Castle of Calais in spight of al the kings forces and the resistance of the besieged there died in the taking thereof a great number of the Nobilitie of France especially in the Castle whereinto they had sent a good supply
Fere yeelded to the king by composition The Cardinall following this new won victorie besieged the strong Towne of Ardres in the beginning of May who for all that euer they could doo within the Towne hee became Maister thereof the 23. of the same moneth seuen daies before Fere wes yeelded to the K. vpō composition The Sene shal of Montenemart leaguer and Aluaris Osoro a Spaniard indured with their souldiers all the extremitie that could be thought or imagined euen till they saw the water two or three foote high within the Towne before they would yeeld or giue ouer after they had sustained a thousand greefes the space of fiue months The composition was honorable and for the profit of the besieged who went foorth with their colours spredde their drummes sounding their weapons and baggage drawing forth with them a double cannon markt with the armes of France They went forth the 22. of this month and retired to Cambrises The rest of this Summer was spent in small exployts in the countrie About the end of the month of August the Marshall of Biron followed with certaine troupes on foote and on horsebacke passed the riuer of Sone and the first day of September hee entered within Artois repaired the Castle of Ambercourt constrained diuers villages to redeeme themselues with a great summe of money And beeing accompanied with fiue Cornets charged the Marquesse of Vuarambon Gouernour of Artois who by reason of his forces to wit fiue to sixe hundreth horse in battell thought to haue got the glorie slew those which durst stay put the rest to flight tooke the Marquesse prisoner of whom he had fortie thousand Crownes for his ransome gaue a great alarme to all the countrie after ward chased the Earle of S. Paul seized and spoyled the Towne and diuers other places The Pesants which would haue spoyled the Towers and Steeples of the Churches were rudely handled in respect of those that stayed in their houses who felt onely the smart of this tempesteous warre by contributions for the prouision of victuals All this was done in eight daies The Cardinal intending to take the Marquesse sent the D. of Arschot in his place who while he entered into Arras had the Frenchmen on the other side who by a harguebuze shot from the Town set fire on a litle village And for that it was full of good booties the Marshall would not they should loose their praie and therefore conducted them to the frontiers of Picardie Thus beeing discharged the 21. of the same moneth they entered the borders of Banpaulme spoyling Hebutere Benuiller Courcelles and other places robbing the Pesants of their goods that durst not striue against them The Duke of Arschot incampped neare to Arras within a cannon shot and beeing carefully intrenched hee deliberated to hazard nothing knowing that he was to deale with a hardy Knight and one of the most resolute warriors in Europe The Frenchmen set fire on all places round about and getting more booties then before returned with easie iourneyes toward Bethune and Theroenne from whence they brought many prisoners and cattell then they retired and camped in the plaine of Azincourt without any resistance at all in this second voyage which continued ten daies The Duke of Arschot supplied with eight hundreth footemen ioyning with the Colonell of Burlots Regiment departed from Arras the fift day of October and incamped at S. Paul where the Marshall of Biron leauing them entered seuen daies after with his horsemen into Artois who with his footemen stayed at Moucy S. Esoy The thirteenth day he remooued to Cōfirmation of aliance betweene the King the Queene of England and the lowe countries Donay then hauing spoyled the countrey hee retired into Picardie within foure or fiue dayes after The Duke of Arschot hauing taken againe the Castle of Ambercourt discharged his Army setting his companies into Garrisons Certaine weekes before the Marshall of Bouillon had bene sent for into Holland to confirme as he did at Haye the aliance sworne betweene the King the Queene of England and the vnited Prouinces The like was done in England about the end of September The Spaniards in Brittaine defied Duke Mercoeur seeing him to continue truce with the Prouences of Poictou Aniou and Maine began to fortifie themselues at Blauit more then before and in other smal Townes which they helde Whilest the Kings Troupes were in Picardie he made his entry into Roane the 20. day of October where he was receiued with such pompe that the expence thereof was esteemed to amount aboue the value of foure hundred thousand Crownes at the Townsmens charges Throughout all France nothing was spoken of so much as how meanes might bee found to defend themselues against the Spaniards and to be reuenged of the manifold iniuries which the Realme had indured vnder the League But the Duke of Austrich on his side was not al this while idle but suffering the rigor of winter to passe which was wonderfull wette hauing had many great floods of waters wherof followed much hurt especially at the bridge at Paris which one night fell downe at the latter ende of the yeare at which time it was the death of three huundred persons drowned in the water and by the fall of the buildings made himselfe ready for the spring The King being stil desirous of the peace of his Kingdome about the end of Sūme◠gaue order to haue all the Nobilitie of the Realme assembled togither in a generall Councell which he determined to hold at Roane at the beginning of Nouember at that time there to be present to prouide for the publike benefite of the countrey of France In opening this matter he first made them an Oration the which to cut off briefly we will incert within this Page following If I would said he claime the tytle of an Orater I should haue learned some eloquent and long Oration and haue studied how to pronounce it with all pleasing grauitie But my Lords my desire aymeth at two more glorious titles which is that I might bee called the Restorer and Deliuerer of this decayed estate for which cause I haue assembled all you this day You know what belongs to your owne care so do I of mine for since it pleased God to call me to the Crowne I found France not onely neare hand ruined but almost vtterly lost from the Frenchmen I vowe by Gods grace by the prayers by the good counsaile of my faithfull Subiects that make profession of Armes by the sword of my true Nobilitie from which I do not distinguish my Princes because the faith of a Gentleman is our fayrest tytles by my paines and labour I haue kept it from losse Let vs saue our selues therefore from ruine Participate my deare subiects with me in this second glory as you haue done in the first I haue not called you as my predecessors were wont to do to confirme my owne will I haue caused you to be assembled to receiue your counsailes to
a litle Towne of his owne name Aneci scituat in Sauoy in the Countie of Geneuois During this generall truce many matters were intended for the establishment of the affaires of the kingdome The king which desired the agreement of his subiects and the abolishment of the pernicious league assayed by faire meanes to winne the Duke de Maine in making him offer of charge and honourable assurances of preferment The Duke which seemed yet to haue two strings to his bowe bargained promised refused aduanced gathered and stretched these matters to the length procuring vnder hand that the decision of the Sorbonnists in the yeare 1590. might take place that is to say that Henry of Bourbon was declared vnworthie of all right or pretence to the Crowne although hee made profession of the Romaine religion The Spanish Agents in France set this matter forward working with all their power for the preferment of the Duke of Neuers On the other side they induced both great and small to continue their accustomed request for the abolishing of one of the religions in France many other were of this opinion that the king could not be receiued except hee first promised expresly to driue away all those of the reformed religion or at least to abolish and put downe their publicque exercises This counsell did hatch or breed infinit vniust matters in the rest of the yeare through diuers parts of France where they of the religion could obtaine no true rest but in promise and papers being molested in effect with all reproaches that might bee imagined wherevnto they opposed themselues in nothing but in peaceable complaints and humble supplications Notwithstanding they obtained nothing the deuices of their enemies beeing such that all their forepassed and faithfull seruices were disdained and contrariwise the most part of the chiefe Captaines and leaguers Townes receiued into fauour cherished and raised vnto honour Briefly all the kings good and faithfull seruants were cast into the lake of forgetfulnesse and the enemies and conspirators of the estates set as it were in a chaire of triumph before whom iustice was so shamefully abused that the wronged cried vengeance from heauen to fall vppon their detestable dealings There were also at this time other deuices against the king There was also at this time an other sort of Courtiers that greatly fauored the League and yet notwithstanding fained to bee fauourers of the Commonweale and quiet of the Realme who daily spredde rude reports of the kings insufficiencie saying that all meanes failed him to make him be obeyed that his enemies were of two great a number and too mightie for him yea inuincible that they would ouerthrow him in short time That France vnder his raigne beeing scourged with so many warres then falling into a new sicknesse of desolations and shamefull deceits it could not but languish and that it would come to passe after once it hung the wing that she should remaine a pray for a greater Maister This was by their account the king of Spaine of whom they made great bragges of his honour reputation and greatnesse His double Pistolles had so bewitched their thoughts that they also supposed to make the Frenchmen afraid with the very name of this Prince remembring not at all that an hundreth yeares before Philip Artch-Duke of Austrige great Grandfather to the king of Spaine made homage within the towne of Arras to king Lewis the twelfth in the person of his Chancellor the Earles of Flanders Artois and Charrolois where on his bended knees hee called him his soueraigne Lord swearing to become true seruant vnto the said king Lewis promising to bee faithfull all daies of his life and in his behalfe to stand against al other to procure his welfare to preuent his harmes and in all things to behaue himself toward him as to his soueraigne Lord and Maister of which the Histories of these times do make true mention While yet this truce indured the king deliberated to assemble at Mante certaine of the chiefe Nobles of the Realme to take counsell on diuers matters at that time needfull The Deputies of the reformed Churches were there present about the end of Nouember whom the king caused to be called togither the twelfth day of the moneth following and hauing giuen them audience and heard the great sorrow which they made vpon the infinit contradictions of his decrees and their complaints of the greeuous wrongs done vnto them through all his Prouinces hee aunswered that the change of religion had not any whit changed his affection from thē that hee would redresse their greefes and make peace and concord among his subiects He receiued their billes of complaints to haue them perused But these affaires were drawn to such length that the distance of many yeares hath buried all And the Captaines of the league hauing plunged the Realme into new miseries those of the religion almost in all parts of the kingdom continued as greeuous vnder the crosse as before The war of Piedmont As for the warres on the other side of the mountaines their affaires fell out in this sort About the ende of the yeare one thousand fiue hundreth nintietwo the Lord of Diguieres beeing entered into Piedmont had taken there for the king Briqueras Cauours and three or foure other little townes hauing ouerthrowne the Duke of Sauoy in diuers incounters as hee did also in Prouence and on the frontiers of Dauphine hee chased them out of all these Prouinces and droue him to his owne house in such sort that if hee had beene strengthened in the yeare following with men money and munition hee had inforced the Duke to giue ouer all that which hee vsurped from the Crowne of France But the Duke who was not ignorant of the estate and affaires of France assayed to couer and hide the shame he had gotten in so many iournies as in the plaine of Pontcharra at Espernon de Pallieres and otherwise in so many incounters in Piedmont where hee had lost in two yeares as also about Geneue many of his best approoued good souldiers and a great number of Captaines hauing also consumed a maruellous heape of treasure and munition in these continuall warres Hee did then through his father in lawes fauor who furnished him with a new masse of money besiege batter assault and take by composition the Townes of Briqueras and Cauours beeing content to keepe them to himselfe without seeking any further in Prouence where his Garrisons could not long remaine without chase of the enemie the Towne of Berry onely accepted Thus did the Frenchmen loose in small time that which they had gotten in Piedmont whereof men do write in diuers sorts In these sieges the assayled did their duties maruellous well but being ouerwatcht by the multitude of the assailants and depriued of the principall commodities to withstand a siege destitute of succour and the passages stopt they were of necessitie constrained to yeeld while the said L. of Diguieres was as it