he was only chosen to govern some Houses in quality of Prior which Employs he for no other reason accepted but he might not disobey his Superiors Cardinal Caraffa having been named Soveraign Inquisitor heard of his Merit He sent him to Bergamo to order the Process against certain Hereticks For besides his extraordinary Piety he was very Learned in the Holy Scripture and in Divinity which he had a long time taught in his Order with the Title of Doctor Cardinal Caraffa well satisfyed with his Activeness and Fidelity which were of proof against Sollicitations and Menaces sent for him back to Rome where his Service was very useful to him in the same Functions This Cardinal being after Julius the Third and Marcellus the Second who both reigned but a very little while advanced to the Churches Throne under the Name of Paul the Fourth gave the Bishoprick of Nepi to Michael Ghislieri so was he call'd amongst the Dominicans and Two Years after honoured him with the Sacred Purple though Cardinal Charles Caraffa his Holynesses Nephew opposed his Promotion He afterwards made him chief of the Inquisition giving him far greater Power than any who had before him filled that place and extoll'd his Capacity in the presence of all the Cardinals He made himself many Enemies by Honourably asserting the Interests of Religion but was nevertheless chosen Pope the Fifth day of January Anno 1566. Those who seem'd the most contrary to his Election were the first to give him their Voices He shewed so much indifference therein that when according to Custom they came to ask him whether he consented to what the Conclave had done in his behalf he for some time doubted whether he should accept it and received the Tiara with as much Moderation as he had testified little desire to obtain it In the mean time this Man full of Humility without Estate without Birth and without Favour supported only by his Innocency and the uprightness of his Intentions manifested no less Greatness of Soul than Zeal and Devotion At his Entrance into the Pontificat he set about restoring the Discipline which had been long corrupted A Work undoubtedly Laborious but which he Gloriously accomplisht by being himself the first in diligently observing his own Ordinances and severely punishing the obstinate and Refractory By proposing Recompences only to those who endeavour'd their amendment the Court of Rome was in so short a time purged of all the Vices which dishonoured it that 't was scarce credible he alone should have performed what several of his Predecessors never durst attempt The Respect and Veneration that was had for him prevented his Orders and every one amended his Manners through the Sole Fear of displeasing him The Corruption was grown so great in the whole Ecclesiastical State that Wisdom and Modesty rendred Men contemptible and nothing made them valued but Libertinism But Pius the Fifth took such good order therein that Virtue regain'd the place whence Vice had driven her The Banditi were become so formidable by their Assassinates and Robberies that the Towns themselves were not safe from their Insults This Holy Pope caused these Thieves to be punished with so much Severity that his Subjects enjoyed a Calm and Repose the like of which had not yet been seen in any State of Italy He had so little Ambition to advance his Family that 't was only at the Instant Request of the Sacred Colledge that he gave the Hat to his Nephew Michael Bonelli his Sisters Son who had also taken the Habit of St. Dominick though he loved him tenderly as being a Person of great Wit and Virtue He took from him the Office of Treasurer of the Church worth ten Thousand Crowns a Year some time after he had given him it and sold it to Cardinal Cornaro for Four Hundred Thousand Franks which were employed in Equipping the Fleet of the Holy See. His Nephew willingly parted with it offering him also whatever was left him of his Benefits for so Holy an use as that He entertain'd a young Bononian that was his Kinsman named Paulo Ghislieri who had a great inclination to the Wars and could not have fail'd of succeeding in it But the Pope understanding that he had an habit of Lying would not see him but banish'd him from Rome with Prohibition of ever returning thither whatever Intercessâ—â—n the Princes and Cardinals made in his beâ—alf By so admiâ—able a Conduct â—e merited the Esteem of all the Christian Princes though no Pope of a long time had so little Condescendence for them or more vigorously oppos'd all their Enterprizes against the Honour or Interest of the Holy See. He rejected the Counsels of those able Politicians who pretended to govern the Church according to the Wisdom of the World and said that the Vicar of JESUS CHRIST ought to be ignorant of State-tricks and to demand of GOD alone Strength necessary for the supporting this Burden This sole Confidence gave him such an Authority that he alone engag'd the King of Spain and the Venetians in the League and gave the Form and Motion to this long and difficult Work. THE CONTENTS OF THE FIFTH BOOK HUgh Buoncompagno chosen Pope under the Name of Gregory the Thirteenth His Birth and Fortune Designs of Gaspar de Coligni Admiral of France Condition of the two Fleets Louchali's great Ability Unwillingness of the two Generals to Fight Each of them slips an Opportunity of gaining the Victory The Turks shut up in an Harbour The Christians will attack them Don John carries back the Spanish Fleet into Sicily The Venetians Complaint against him 'T is refâ—rrâ—d to the Council of Ten to treat secretly a Peace The Turks make themselves Masters of a little Place and Fort. The Republicks Complaints to the Pope Great Contests at Rome about augmenting the Navy The Pope grants Don John the Liberty of Haly's Son. This Prince sends him back to his Mother without any Ransom A witty Saying of the Bassa of Negrepont Prisoner at Rome The Pope exhorts the French King to enter into the League Reasons of the Power and Greatness of the Realm of France Causes of its last Misfortunes Peace and Alliance between France and Spain Henry's lamentable Death Jealousie between Catherine de Medicis and the Cardinal of Lorrain Conspiracy of Amboise Death of Francis the Second King of Navarre declared Regent during the Minority of Charles the Ninth Duke of Guise assassinated before Orleance Battel of St. Denis Anne de Momerency Constable of France mortally wonded Battel of Jarnac Prince of Conde slain after the Fight Conduct of Admiral Coligni Cardinal Ursin Legat in France Conditions on which the Emperor will enter into the League Peace concluded at Constantinople between the Grand Seignior and the Venetians Copy of the Treaty sent to Venice All the Christian States offended at this Agreement The King of Spain receives the News of it with a great deal of Moderation The Pope drives from his Presence the Venetian Embassadour who came
Angry that the Spanish Embassadour at Rome should find more favor than his 277. Francis Barbaro a Messenger of Peace to the Venetians 364. Francis Contareni Bishop of Baffo 108. Francis the French King Successor to King Henry 349. A Conspiracy against him ibid. Dies ibid. Francis Duke of Guise slain 350. His Encomium ibid. Francis Maria of Rovere Son of Duke Vrbin who 220. Francis Prioli 11 119. His Valour and Death 120. Francis Troni conducts Abrahim to Venice 51. Francomates who 2. G Gabriel Cerbellon Councellor of Germany 218. Galeasses what they are 50. They first charge the Enâ—my 242. Gaspar de Coligny Admiral of the Protestants in France 159. Marries a Wife a Subject of the Duke of Savoy's 286. Thought to have a design upon Savoy ibid. He breeds a Discord between the two Kings 301. Kills the Duke of Guise by his Emissaries 350. His Character 351. The Queen seeks his Death 353. She commits the doing of it to the young Duke of Guise ibid. 354. He instructs his Party how to kill the King and others 355. Himself killed and thrown out at a Window 356. His Encomium 357. The names of those that were killed with him ibid. Genevre Salviati Baglioni's Wife her Love and Courage 205. Sends to Perusia to raise men in her Husbands Defence 206. Gengirus his own executioner 15. Genoeses placed after the Venetians by Petrin 9. They contend with the Venetians about Priority ibid. Conspire against the King but being detected are all killed ibid. They make War with the Cypriots ibid. They make themselves Masters of Famagusta ibid. They assist the Spaniard with Four Gallies 286. Granvil Cardinal his Birth and Character 61. He saies the Venetians ought not to be assisted 62. Contradicted by Cardinal Commendon 62 63. He hinders the League 134. He incurs the Pope's Displeasure 136. He is Governour of Naples 217. A Thanksgiving for the Victory of the Venetian Navy 260. Greeks two Fugitives from Nicosia perswade Mustapha to besiege it 87. Gregory Panteus 96. Gregory XIII made Pope 298. His Birth and by-past Life ibid. Endeavours to bring the French King into a League with the Confederates 348. Angry with the Venetians for making peace with the Turks 366. Inveighs against them in the Consistory ibid. 349. His Decree against them 369. Appeased by the Venetian Embassadours ibid. Gulielmus de Gonzaga Duke of Mantua assists against the Turks 286. Guidobaldus Duke of Vrbin offers to assist in the War against the Turks 286. Guises Adversaries to the Prince of Conde 350. Guise employed by the King and Queen to kill the Admiral of France 352. Guy de Lufignan dispossessed of his Crown purchases Cyprus 6. His Family ibid. H Hali Admiral of the Turks 86. Destroys several Islands belonging to the Venetians 231. His Exhortation to an Engagement with the Confederates 232. His Death 247 His two Sons one whereof dyed at Rome the other was begg'd of Don John by his Mother 347. Hector Martinengo slain upon the Rendition of Famagusta 211. Hector Podocatero sent Embassadour by Mustapha to Famagusta 196. His ill Treatment ibid. Mustapha kills him 197. Hector Troni cast in Prison for deserting Clissa and let go 337. Henry of France His League and Affinity with Philip of Spain 349. Henry Brother to the French King made King of Poland 359. Henry King of Navarre a Hugonot 158. His mildness 159. Hermolaus Tipoli who 50 119. He burns the City Scardoâ—a 180. Takes some Ships ibid. Hierom Grimani his last Words concerning the League 126. Hierom de Martinengo sent to succour the Cypriots 43. Savorniani's Rival ibid. Dies 81. Hierom Ragazoni Bishop of Famagusta sent to ask Aid of the Venetians 205. Hierom Venieri Podestat of Dulcino deprived of his Armour by the Turks 184. Hierom Zani General of the Navy 50. Honorius Cajetan a Commander in the Confederate Army 220. Hugo the King of Apulia's Son King of Cyprus 6. Hugonots in France a 349. ad finem Humphrey Justiniani sent to Venice with the news of the Sea Fight 255. His Entrance into the City and Relation of the Victory 257. I James Celsi 66. James Foscaâ—ini deposed from his Generalship at Sea 269 James Malateste being too veâ—turesom taken by the Turks 181. After two years Slavery released 182. James Nores Count de Tripoli Rocas's Rival 76. James Ragazone sent to treat of a peace at Constantinople 137. James Sorantio sent Embassadour to the Empâ—ror Maximilian 163. He is of opinion that the Siege of Leucade ought not to be undertaken 264. Complains bitterly of Veâ—ieri 268. He raises the Siege of Cataro 339. 〈…〉 vindicates Venieri 269. Janizaries in the War of Cyprus 86. Jews Vagrants 25. Their place of abode ibid. Driven out of Spain 26. They withdraw themselves into Portugal ibid. They lose their Liberty ibid. Driven out of Portugal ibid. They feign themselves Christians ibid. Imissa a Region of Cyprus 2. Don John of Austria 132. Made Generalissimo of the whole Army by the Pope 133. Goes over to Genoa 217. His Councellors 218. He gives the Sign to fall upon the Turks Fleet. 237. He encourages his Soldiers ibid. Angry with Venieri 255. His stay in Sicily 300. A Copy of his Letter to Colonni 304 305. Determines to return for Sicily 324. The Venetians court him to stay but in vain 325. Sets Sayl from Greece 326. Accus'd to the King for having engag'd the Turks contrary to his order 334. John Falerio who 97. Taken by the Infidels is kill'd 108. John Legio Providor of Dalmatia last in prison at Venice 123. John Sorantio sent to Rome and why 131. Ingrateful to Pope Pius 132. John Susomini a prudent man. 78. Isaac Comnenus loses Cyprus to Richard King of England 6. Ismael King of Persia overcome by Selim Soliman's Father 32. Ismael Tammas the King of Persia's Son why imprisoned by his Father 158. Italian Princes their inclination to War. 285. Julius Savâ—rniani enters Nicosia with a handful of Men. 12 13 14. He takes care for the preservation of Dalmatia 48. The Venetians put great Confidence in him 192. L. Landriani Governour of Sicily Councellour of Germany 218. Latin Vrsin one of the Heroes in the Confederate Army 220. Lauredon Doge of Venice his Death 55. Laurence Tipoli Podestat of Famagusta 74. Legates from Venice to Spain 334. Leiparus yields it self to the Infidels Burnt by the Nicosians and why 90. Lesina burnt by the Turks 187. Letters treating of a Peace sent to Rome 364. c. Letters of the Confederates intercepted by the Enemies 100. Leucade its Situation 265. In vain attempted by Venieri 266. Lewis Mocenigo Doge of Venice 56. Lewis Requiescens Governour of Milanese 277. Lewis Son to the Duke of Savoy King of Cyprus 10. Driven out by the Mamalucks ibid Liberty granted the Slaves if they obtained the Victory 243. Their outrages upon the Turks Gallies 244. Limisso a Region in Cyprus 2. Louchali an Arch-Pyrate 174. His Actions in Crete 175 176. He quits the Inhabitants of
conquering it And being come to the beginning of his Reign 't is not amiss to shew the Reader his Humor his Genius and Conduct having first in few words given an Account of the Princes his Brethrens Destiny Solyman had five Sons whose Birth could no less contribute to the happiness and honour of his Reign than the Victories he had gained had not Ambition and Jealousie stifled in his Heart the Sentiments of Nature Mustapha his eldest Son whose Mother was a Circasian Slave had acquir'd by his excellent Qualities the Love and Esteem of the whole Ottoman Empire He was especially ador'd by the Souldiery His excellent Virtues instead of rejoycing his Father excited his Jealousie and Defiance so that suspecting him to design the bereaving him of his Crown he rais'd an Army under pretence of carrying the War into Persia causing him to be seized on in his Camp made his Eunuchs strangle him in his presence Gengirus sirnamed Crump-Back by reason of his Deformity affrighted at the barbarous usage of his Brother ended his Life in Rage and Despair vomiting out a Thousand Curses at the Cruelty of his Father Bajazet the Third being likewise suspected by Solyman as being no less beloved by the Army than his brother Mustapha was forced by the ill usage he received to preserve himself by open force and lost unfortunately a Battle after which flying for Protection to Tammas the King of Persia this cruel and Perfidious Prince affrighted by Solyman's Threatnings or corrupted by his Money delivered him to Executioners who accompanied the Ambassadors which the Grand Signior had sent him Mahomet died in the Flower of his Age and Selim Roxalana's Son thus became by the death of his four Brothers Solyman's only Heir He was born in 1520 the same Year wherein died his Grandfather Selim and was educated in the Art of Government according to the Turkish Maxims Assoon as he was at Age he had the Charge of Adrianople and took on him after the Death of his Brother Mahomet the Government of Cilicia which he ruled during Solyman's Life This Prince was very happy if we compare his Fortune with the sad Disaster of his Brethren who left him sole and peaceable Heir of a mighty Empire But on the other hand very unlike in his manner of Governing to his Predecessor He shew'd from his Infancy no inclination to War nor Quality befitting a Prince but on the contrary degenerating from the Sobriety of his Ancestors he plunged himself into all kinds of Debauchery and especially in Drunkenness against the express Prohibition of his Law. His Table which according to the Custom of the Seralio should be mean and frugal was covered with the most delicious and costly Meats and always surrounded with Dwarfs Buffoons and Parasites He usually made one of his Bashaws to dine with him call'd Achmet a gluttonous drunken Fellow who rendered himself acceptable to his Prince by drinking with him whole days together they usually held on their Debaucheries till Midnight and were commonly carried away from the Table deâ—â—â— drunk This Excess in Eating and Drinking made Selim so gross and unwieldy that together with the Redness which the Wine gave the Whiteness of his Complexion he resembled very well the Poet 's Bacchus when leaving the Table he repos'd himself cross-legg'd on Carpets according to the Turkish manner He was addicted to all those Vices which attend excessive Drinking He was much in the Seralio amongst the Ladies and yet this Passion could not keep him from a more brutish and abominable one which is too common amongst filthy wretches who know no Measure nor Rule in their Sensualities He caused to be brought up with great Care several youths the comliest of which served about his Person on whom he would sometimes bestow great Pensions and considerable Employments according to their Capacity He took much delight in seeing them wrestle draw the Bow and perform their other Exercises in the Gardens of the Seralio But this was always in private lest he should abase the Majesty of so great an Emperor and therefore appear'd but seldom at these Spectacles When he went forth to take the Diversion of Hunting on the side of Asia with his Dogs and Falcons he pass'd over the Channel in cover'd Boats instead of riding on Horseback out of Constantinople He minded as little the enlarging his Territories as depriving himself of the Pleasures he enjoyed in a shameful Repose Softness and Flattery had so corrupted his Mind that he thought â—â—mself above all humane Greatness Had he followed his own Inclinations and not been led by his Ministers he would have been content with the Conquests of his Ancestors and languished in the soft Life of the Seralio suffering all the Princes in Europe to live in Peace Piali and Mustapha who had long commanded his Father's Armies were two of his greatest Confidents and the Favour of Piali was grounded on the Honour of his Alliance Solyman returning victorious from the Siege of Belgrade found him lying expos'd in the Fields where his Mother frighted by the March of the Army had left him This Prince in his Passage took the Pleasure of Hunting and seeing the Child whom the Dogs were about to devour gave order it should be taken up and carried to Constantinople He was educated in the Seralio with great Care and his towardly Inclinations joyned to the progress which he made in his Exercises recommended him so greatly to the Grand Signior's Affection that he gave him his Son Selim's Daughter in Marriage The Ottoman Princes acknowledge no other Nobility of Extraction in their Empire giving their Daughters in Marriage to such of their Slaves whom they believe merited this Honour by their Services Piali having long commanded the Sultan's Land-Forces was made Captain Bassa of the Sea. Mustapha had attended Selim from his Infancy and corrupted his few good Inclinations through too much Mildness and Indulgence But that which acquir'd him greatest Favour was the signal Service he did him in the Fight betwixt him and his Brother Bajazet for these two ambitious Princes were in dispute about the Empire in Solyman's Life-time Selim's Army was routed and he himself was put to flight when Mustapha rallying his Troops made him return to a second Charge and falling on Bajazet with an incredible Valour he won the Victory from him and wholly defeated him But Mahomet was he who of all the Ministers of the Port most absolutely possessed his Master's Favour and had also given him the greatest and most important Mark of Fidelity and Affection For assoon as Solyman expired in Hungary he was so prudent as to keep his Death secret and prest forward the Siege of Sigeth with as great vigor as if the Grand Signior had been yet alive so that he carried the Place by Assault maugre all the Efforts of the German Empire He at the same time dispatch'd Couriers to Selim to advertize him of his Father's Death advising him to hasten to Constantinople
shall be my Sovereign and not they that shall pronounce my Doom He afterwards justified himself in all things alledged against him and shewed so clearly his Innocency that he obtained not only his Grace but Places of greater Trust These Ministers being jealous of the Favour and Credit which Mahomet enjoyed during the Peace earnestly desired War to secure themselves against so dangerous and potent a Rival Mahomet alarm'd by the Complaints of the Souldiers and Murmurs of the Janizaries which grew every day louder and more frequent believ'd he ought for the averting of this Storm to undertake some Military Exploit This being the only means for the quieting the Janizaries Spirits who thirsted after Mischief and Pillage and remove at the same time from the Court his Enemies in sending them away to expose their Lives in the Graâ—â— Signior's Service And thus the chief Ministers of the Port altho' with different Interests concurred in promoting a War. Miches whom we have already mentioned was one of Mustapha's Confidents by means of his frequent Access to the Grand Signior He was a Jew by Birth a wandring Nation eveâ— since their committing the worst of Murders namely that on the Son of God whose Blood is on them and their Children to this day These People are hated and distinguished by Marks of Infamy in all places where they traffick not being suffered to bear the least Office in any place whatsoever They were greatly multiplied in Spain and acquired great wealth there by their false Dealings and Usury Their way of lending Money appeared at first very profitable to the People but when it was perceived in the Sequel that this facility of borrowing gave occasion to Luxury and Prodigality and that People of Quality as well as the ordinary sort were near ruined by prodigious Sums of Interest-money the Kings of Spain thought it necessary to remedy so great an Abuse This People being exceedingly encreased as I afore mentioned by means of their Averseness to Celibacy esteeming Barrenness a Curse the Kings of Spain would suffer them no longer in their Territories commanding them to depart thence or abjure their Judaism The greatest part of them loving their Commerce better than their Religion chose rather to quit that than their Countrey and the rest withdrew themselves to Portugal which yet received them on condition They should remain their Slaves if they departed not the Kingdom after a certain time altho' they had given them a great deal of Money to be suffered amongst them They designed to pass over to Mauritania but finding no Vessels on the day mark'd for their Passage by the falsness of the Portugueses they lost their Liberty according to the Agreement made betwixt ' em After the Death of John the Second Emanuel who succeeded him drew them out of Slavery to obtain the Reputation of a merciful Prince But finding that kindness prevailed nothing on the hard-heartedness of these People he took from them their Children and caus'd them to be Baptiz'd driving out their Parents from his Dominions The horror of so cruel a Separation converted more than the Confiscation of their Estates did in Spain But the outward Profession of Christian Religion changed not their Minds practising no less secretly their Judaish Superstitions The King of Portugal set up a severe Inquisition against them The Relapsers convicted were burnt alive and their Posterity declared for ever infamous This Tribunal consists still in Portugal It s Rigour causes many to withdraw into several parts of the World who being privately brought up in the ancient Belief of their Fathers although born amongst Christians remain fix'd to the Dreams of their Rabbies by the horror they are inspired with from their Infancy against our Religion These People are called by the Spaniards Marani and Miches was one of the most considerable amongst them They had sent him to Venice to obtain if possible from the Republick an Habitation in some of the Neighbouring Islands But the Senate having refused to gratifie his Request he retired out of humor to Constantinople where he married a rich Widow by whose means he arrived from a miserable Condition to great Wealth and became the eminentest Jew in that Country Being a Person of great insinuation and address he soon found means by Presents and Flatteries to have access to Selim who was then Governour only of Cilicia Solyman his Father at that time reigning and by force of Presents was admitted by this Prince into a near familiarity and knowledge of his most private Occasions This man was no stranger to the State of Affairs in most Parts of Christendom but especially in the Interests of those of Venice and therefore employ'd all his Skill and Interest with the Grand Signior to be revenged on that Republick for the Denial he lately received from them He often entertained the Sultan with the Fertility of the Isle of Cyprus the Excellency of its Fruits and especially the Delicacy of its Wine which this Prince usually tasted to Excess He moreover asserted some kind of Right to this unjust Invasion that the Vâ—netians had usurped it that it belonged lawfully to his Highness seeing it made a part of the Kingdom of Egypt and that it was in quality of the Mameluc's Successor the Republick paid him an annual Tribute When the Wine Sugar and other Fruits which the Governors of Cyprus were wont to send every year to Selim were presented Miches derided these Presents telling the Emperor to set him against the Republick that they were more becoming the mean spiritedness of the Merchants that sent them than the greatness of the Prince that received them He added That the Venetians made continual infractions in the last Treaty of Peace in receiving into their Ports such as were Pyrates and Enemies to his Highness That the Spaniards and Knights of Malta made not a Prize on the Turks but under the intelligence of the Republick and That if he suffered the Mediterranean Sea to be infested with these Robbers all his Subjects must give over Trading which would be as disadvantageous to his Reputation as contrary to his Profit That the Mahometan Religion was no less interessed seeing by this means the Accesses to Meca were block'd up and all Liberty taken away of visiting Mahomet's Tomb whither so many devout Turks went on Pilgrimage That under pretence of chasing the Corsary's they pursued his Subjects with so great rage and fury that they cut the Throats of those who surrendred without fighting He at the end flattered him on the immense extent of his Power and assuring him that the Venetians would abandon to him the Island assoon as ever his Army should set footing in it he confirm'd this Prince who otherwise slighted the Republick of Venice in the Design of invading this Kingdom assoon as Solyman should leave him the Empire Some have affirmed he gave the possession of it to this Miches and that in the midst of a great Debauch he had call'd him King of
practice Hamanity you who so barbarously and cruelly treat our Christian Prisoners To which Mahomet made him this witty Answer Your Excellency will be pleased to pardon our Ignorance since we have been hitherto only used to take Prisoners not having yet been such our selves in the Christians School The Pope in the mean time solicited the Crowns to join their Arms to those of the Confederates and the Cardinal of Lorrain who came to Rome to assist at the last Conclave had given Gregory Hopes that the Allyance between France and the Grand Seignior might be broken This Cardinals Esteem amongst the French having giv'n him an entire Knowledge of that Kingdoms Affairs and the Kings true Sentiments His Holiness on such good assurance believed he might successfully endeavour this Dis-union He writ about it to Charles the Ninth who answered him He should willingly enter into the League but the great Revolutions which had happened in his Kingdom permitted him not to join with the Confederates France broken and shattered into different Factions was exposed to the Plunder of the Germans and the Invasions of her other Neighbors The Lorrain Princes and other Principal Persons in the Court retired into the Country being neither able to suffer the Imperious Humour of the Queen nor submit themselves to the King of Navarre But these Princes being a little after reconciled with Annas de Mommorency Constable of France drew the King of Navarre into their Party by giving him new hopes of recovering his Kingdom and of diminishing the over-great Authority of Queen Catherine and ruining the Projects of the Prince of Conde they entred Paris guarded by their Friends and Creatures and drove all those of the opposite Faction from Court. Thus France becoming the Stage of a Civil War saw more Blood shed in most of her Towns than in the Famousest Sieges and Battels of the last Age. They no longer amused themselves with Disputes and Controversies the divided Families deciding Questions of Religion by the Sword. The first Battel was fought near the Town of Dreux the Kings Army being commanded by the Constable and the Duke of Guise and the other by the Prince of Conde and the Admiral de Coligni The Success was equal on both sides the Prince of Conde and the Constable being boht taken Prisoners The Duke of Guise laid Siege to Orleans and pressed it so close that it was upon the point of yielding when a Villain came to the Camp and watching an opportunity for the execution of his Design he slew this Prince with a Shot from a Carbine as he was returning from visiting the Works attended only by Three Horsemen The Duke of Guise's Death was extreamly prejudicial to France besides his Military Perfections which rendred this Duke the greatest Captain in the Kingdom he had gain'd the Peoples Hearts by such a Charming Sweetness such admirable Liberality and Sincerity and such Courteous and Familiar Behaviour that one could not forbear loving him His Death almost ruin'd the Fortune of his House A Peace was afterwards concluded but 't was only to give both Parties leisure to make Preparation for beginning the War afresh The Prince of Conde freed out of Prison made great Levies in Germany and soon got a new Army on Foot. He endeavoured to surprize and carry away the King as he was returning from Meaux to Paris but a Battalion of Six Thousand Switzers which guarded the Court in its March and repulsed several Attacks by the way ruin'd this Audacious Design Some time after the Constable displeased with his Nephews whom he accused of Ingratitude and Revolt gave them Battel in the Plain of St. Denis routed them and raised the Siege from before Paris The Constable who was near Fourscore years old received a Mortal Wound in his Reins by a Pistol Shot as he was in the midst of the Fight charging the Enemies with a Vigour worthy his Name and his Office. The Hugonots though vanquisht made Peace on what Terms they pleased the Queen being obliged to accept them as frighted with the great Number of Forreign and Domestick Forces that filled the Kingdom This Second Accommodation was also but a Cessation of Arms the War breaking forth again with more Fury than before The Hugonots lost a Third Battel at Jarnac gain'd by the Duke of Anjou who commanded the King his Bothers Army where the Prince of Conde was slain upon the Place Gaspar de Coligny was a Gentleman of a good Family but much more considerable by that of his Mother who was Sister to the Constable de Mommorency His Unkle whom â—ecause of his singular Merit King Henry the Second honoured with his Favour had procur'd him the Office of Admiral one of the first of the Crown Coligny had serv'd under him during the Reigns of Francis the First and Henry the Second with no little Reputation He had been employed in several Important Negotiations by which he had acquired a perfect Understanding of Affairs He was a Man of a thorow Experience but close full of Address naturally Eloquent and no less a Statesman than a Soldier tho' far more cautious than advent'rous In the Year 1522. France being almost ruined there was a new Agreement made The Admiral at the same time negotiated a Marriage between the Princess Margaret the Kings Sister and Henry King of Navarre Anthony his Father dyed some years before of a Wound receiv'd at the Siege of Roan The Admiral came to Paris to assist at the Marriage followed by so great a number of Gentlemen and Vassals that the King himself could scarce have found so Magnificent a Train He was received with extraordinary Testimonies of Confidence and Friendship He had often private Conferences with the King in which 't was known they treated of making War upon Flanders and this we have since understood obliged Philip the Second to stay in Italy for fear of some Surprize from the French. In the mean time there was a Rumour whether grounded on Reallity or invented by the Queen who was laying a Snare for the Admiral as her Enemies would have it that the People he had without any Order or Permission brought to Paris under pretence of being present at the King of Navarre's Marriage conspired against the Royal Family The Queen whether the better to conceal her Design or really fearing some secret Plot caused the Guards of the Louvre to be doubled Whilst these things ware doing the Admiral returning from the King to his own House was wounded in the Right hand by a Shot from an Arquebush which was by some People said to have been done by the Procurement of the Queen or the Duke of Guise The Duke of Guise was accused because the House in which the Assassin had planted himself belonged to one of his Creatures who had some time before left it empty to prevent the discovery of this Action These Suspitions were strengthned by the irreconcilable Hatred there was between the Prince and the Admiral and