that many accustomed to the liberality candour and integrity of the Prince of Conde abhorred and feared the disposition and carriage of the Admiral who was thought a man exceeding covetous of deep thoughts of a treacherous subtil nature and in all things inclined wholly to attend and procure by any means his own ends And it happened at the same time that Andelot and Iaques Bouchard the one Brother and the other streightly united by interests with the Admiral either spent with labour or overcome with grief and trouble of mind fell both into a grievous sickness of which they died not many months after whereby that party which desired the greatness and advancement of the Admiral not knowing how to manage their business remained extreamly weakned But he with his subtilty overcoming all these impediments resolved by despising ambition and speciousness of titles still to retain in himself the chief Power and Authority for transferring the name of Heads of the Faction and the titles of Generals of the Army to Henry Prince of Navarre and Henry Son to the deceased Prince of Conde he saw the common cause would not only keep the same authority and the same reputation of being upheld by the Blood Royal but they being both in a manner children the sole administration of the whole business should still remain in him so to quiet the ambitions and pretences of the great ones so to satisfie the expectation of the people and by this means to renew again that league amongst the Faction which through diversity of opinions seemed now in a manner broken With this resolution not attempting that which could not be obtained he presently sent to Queen Iane to come to the Army shewing her the time was now come to advance her Son to that greatness which properly belonged to him and to which she had so long aspired Queen Iane wanted neither willingness nor courage being before fully resolved despising all danger to make her Son Head of that Faction wherefore with a readiness and quickness answerable to the occasion she went instantly with both the Princes to the Camp which was then at Cognac full of discords within it self and in a condition rather to dissolve than to keep together to remedy the disorders and losses already hapned There the Queen of Navarre after she had approved the Admirals counsels the Army being drawn together with wonderful courage and manly speeches exhorting the Souldiers to remain united and constant in the defence of their Liberties and Religion proposed to them the two young Princes whose presence and aspect moved the affections of them all to be their Generals encouraging them under the auspicious conduct of those two branches of the Royal Blood to hope for a most happy success to their just pretentions and the common cause at which words the Army which through the past adversities and present discords was in a manner astonished and confounded taking new vigour the Admiral and the Count de la Roch-fou-cault first submitted and swore fidelity to the Princes of Bourbon by whose example the Gentlemen and Commanders doing the same the common Souldiers likewise with loud applause approved the Election of the Princes for Protectors and Heads of the Reformed Religion Henry of Bourbon Prince of Navarre was then fifteen years of age of a lively spirit and generous courage altogether addicted and intent to the profession of Arms wherefore through the inclination of his Fate or the perswasions of his Mother readily without any demur attempting the invitation of the Army in a short Souldier-like speech he promised them To protect the true Religion and to persevere constantly in the defence of the common Cause till either death or victory brought that liberty they all desired and aimed at The Prince of Conde rather by his actions than words consented to what was done for he was so young that he could not express himself otherwise so that in all other things likewise yielding to the maturer age and pre-eminence of the first Prince of the Blood the chief Authority of the Faction was established in the Prince of Navarre wherefore Queen Iane in remembrance of this Act caused afterwards certain pieces of Gold to be coyned which on the one side bore her own Effigies and on the other her Sons with this word PAX CERTA VICTORIA INTEGRA MORS HONESTA The Princes then being chosen Heads of the Faction they presently called a Council of the chief Commanders to deliberate in the presence of Queen Iane how to manage their business what remedies were expedient to repair their past losses and how to divert the extream danger that threatned them There before any thing else it was determined That the Admiral by reason of the minority and little experience of the Princes should govern the Army and all things else belonging to the War but Monsieur de Aciere should be General of the Foot which charge first by the infirmity and afterwards by the death of Andelot was vacant and Monsieur de Genlis General of the Artillery which was formerly supplied by Bouchard After which Elections discoursing how to proceed with the War many not yet assuted from their fears would that the Army should be drawn into the Cities and strong holds about Rochel shewing it would be impossible for the Duke of Anjou to make any attempt upon those places which were so invironed with waters and marsh grounds whilst there was any reasonable strength to defend them but this appeared to the Admiral the other Commanders of best esteem being of the same opinion a too cowardly resolution and therefore it was determined That all the Army should be divided into the several Towns upon the Rivers to keep them and to hinder the progress of the Conqueror till they had certain news of the forces the Duke of Deux-ponts was bringing to their aid out of Germany who when he came near the Army should draw together again to meet him wheresoever he was and use their utmost endeavours to join with him for by obtaining that end they should remain at least equal if not superiour in strength to the Kings Army and if they could not effect it they should be separated and carry the War into divers places and the King likewise being constrained to divide his Forces they might make War upon even terms which things being resolved on Queen Iane went to Rochel to sollicite for new aids and provisions the Admiral with the Princes retired to S. Iean d' Augâ—li Monsieur de Piles took upon him the Defence of Xaintes Montgomery and Pâ—viaut turned about to Angolesme Monsieur d' Aciere with the greatest part of the Foot remained at Cognac and Genlis with a strong Garison shut himself up in Loudun all places either for strength of their situation by help of art or in regard of the Rivers which in that Country are many and very deep likely to hold out a long time In the mean while the Duke
infinite importance and which should redound to his very great contentment The Count not knowing the Frier but hearing how the City stood affected and that many plotted to bring in the King believing the business to be true which he professed to deal in made no difficulty of granting him the Letter with which departing upon the last day of Iuly in the Evening he went from the City into the King's Camp where he was presently taken by the Guards but he saying he had business and Letters to communicate to the King and having shewed the superscription was brought to Iaques de la Guesle the King's Attorney-General who executed the Office of Auditor of the Camp The Sieur de la Guesle having heard the Frier and knowing that the King had returned when it was dark from discovering the Enemies Works told him It was too late for that night but the next morning he would bring him to him without fail and that in the mean time he might stay for his security in his Lodgings The Frier accepted the invitation supped at Table with la Guesle cut his meat with a new Knife with a black Haft which he had about him Eat drank and slept without care And because a Prophesie ran not onely thorough the Army but thorough the whole Kingdom That the King should be killed by a Frier he was asked by many if perchance he came for that end To whom he answered without disturbance That those were not things to be jested withal in that manner In the morning upon the first day of August Monsieur de la Guesle went to the King's Lodgings very early and having told him the Friers desire to speak with him was commanded presently to bring him in though he was not yet quite ready but still without his Buff-coat which by reason of his Arms he was wont to wear and having on onely a thin Taffaty Doublet all untrussed The Frier being brought in while they both withdrew to a Window on one side of the room he delivered the Letter from the Count de Brienne which the King read and having bid him proceed to tell his business he feigned to feel for another Paper to present it and while the King stood intentively expecting it he having drawn his wonted Knife out of his sleeve struck him on the left side of the Navel and left all the blade buried in the wound The King feeling the blow drew forth the Knife and in drawing of it made the wound wider and presently struck it himself up to the Haft in the Friers Forehead who at the same time la Guesle running him thorough with his Sword fell instantly dead and was no sooner faln but Momperat Lognac and the Marquess de Mirepoix Gentlemen of the Kings Chamber who were present at the fact threw him out of the Window where by the common Soldiers he was torn in pieces burnt and his ashes scattered in the River The King was carried to his Bed and the wound was not thought mortal by the Chirurgions Wherefore having called his Secretaries he caused an account of the business to be given to all parts of the Kingdom exhorting all the Governors not to be dismaid for that he hoped he should be cured within a few dayes and be able to ride The same he did to the chief Commanders and Principal Officers of his Army and having presently sent for the King of Navarre committed to him the care of his Army and the diligent prosecution of the enterprise But at night he felt wonderful great pain in his wound and fell into a Fever Wherefore having called his Chirurgions and search being made they found his Intrails were pierced so that they all agreed his life could not last many hours The King who desired to know the truth being told his danger caused Estienne Boulogne his Chaplain to be called and with very great devotion made Confession of his sins But before Absolution his Confessor having told him that he had heard the Pope had published a Monitory against him and therefore he should satisfie his Conscience in the present extremity He replied That it was true but the Monitory it self contained that in case of death he might be absolved that he would satisfie the Popes request and promised faithfully to release the prisoners though he should believe it would cost him his Life and Crown With which satisfaction the Confessor absolved him and gave him the Sacraments the same night The King feeling his strength decay caused his Chamber-doors to be set open and the Nobility to be brought in who with abundance of tears and bitter sighs shewed publick sins of their grief And turning toward them the Duke of Espernon and the Count d' Auvergne his Nephew standing by his Bed-side he said with an audible voice That it troubled him not to die but he was grieved to leave the Kingdom in so great disorder and all good men afflicted and persecuted That he desired no revenge for his death for from his first years he had learned in the School of Christ to forgive injuries as he had done so many in times past But turning to the King of Navarre he told him That if that custom of killing Kings should grow in use neither should he by consequence be long secure He exhorted the Nobility to acknowledge the King of Navarre to whom the Kingdom of right belonged and that they should not stick at the difference in Religion for both the King of Navarre a man of a sincere noble nature would in the end return into the bosome of the Church and the Pope being better informed would receive him into his favour to prevent the ruine of the whole Kingdom At last he embraced the King of Navarre and said repeating it twice over Brother I assure you you will never be King of France if you turn not Catholick and if you humble not your self unto the Church after which words having called his Chaplain he in the presence of them all rehearsed the Creed after the use of the Roman Church and having Crossed himself began the Misâ—râ—re but his speech failing him in these words Redde mihi laetitiam salutis tui he yielded up the Ghost contentedly having lived Thirty six years and reigned Fifteen and just two months In his death ended the line of Kings of the House of Valois and the posterity of Philip the Third surnamed the Hardy and by vertue of the Salique Law the Crown devolved to the Family of Bourbon nearest of the Blood and descended from Robert Count of Clermont the second son of St. Louis The whole Army being wonderfully grieved at so sad so fatal an accident and especially the Nobility who accompanied the death of their Prince with tears which came from the bottom of their hearts but on the other side the Parisians shewed profuse signs of joy and some among the Great Ones who had till then worn mourning for the death of the Lords of Guise did
in the Parliament a thing not usually done except in great necessity but by the King himself or by his Authority gravely advertised the Counsellors promising his care to pacifie the uproars of the people and to free them from so imminent a danger Which kind of proceeding exceedingly offended the King and the Queen it appearing to them that those people presumed too evidently to counterpoise the Royal Authority But the end at which they aimed made them artificially dissemble their displeasure With these seeds of discord ended the year 1565. At the beginning of the year following the King and Queen being really intent though inwardly exasperated to put an end to the troubles of the Kingdom rather by the arts of Peace than the violence of War went to Moulins where those that were summoned met from all parts at the Assembly in which the complaints of the people being proposed and considered and the abuses introduced according to the advice of the High Chancellor there was a long punctual decree formed in which was prescribed a form of Government and a manner of proceeding for the Magistrates taking away those corruptions and disorders that use to give the subject just cause of complaint At the same time the King insisting upon the pacification of his subjects for the general peace of the Kingdom a reconciliation was endeavoured between the Houses of Guise and Chastillon at which appeared on the one side the Mareshal of Momorancy with the Chastilâ—ons on the other the Cardinals of Lorain and Guise but with such backwardnâ—ss in both parties that there was little hope of sincere intentions where there appeared so much disorder and such an adherence to private interests For on the one part the Duke of Aumale Brother to the Cardinals had absolutely refused to be present thereat and Henry Duke of Guise yet in age of minority came thither only not to displease his Tutors but carried himself in such a grave reserved manner that it clearly appeared though his Governours brought him against his will when he was once come of age he would not forget the death of his Father nor observe this peace to which he could not being then so young remain any way obliged But on the other part also the Mareshal of Momorancy not induring so far to humble himself denied to speak câ—rtain words appointed by the Queen and the Council for the satisfaction of the Cardinal of Lorain nor would ever have been brought to it if he had not been forced by his Father who if he refused threatned to disinherit him and the Chastillons opposing by their Actions this seâ—ming Agreement ceased not to calumniate and make â—inister interpretations of the proceedings of the Guises At the last they were brought â—ogether in the presence of the King where they imbraced and discoursed but with a general belief even of the King himself that the reconciliation could not long endure which within a few days proved so indeed For the Duke of Aumale arriving at the Court denied expresly to meet with or use any act of salutation or civility to the Admiral or the rest of his Family On the contrary in the Queens presence he said that the Admiral laying to his charge that he had hired one to kill him he should think it a great happiness to be shut up with him in a chamber that he might hand to hand let him know â—e had no need of help but that he was able to determine his own quarrels himself And because the Queen being moved therewith answered That they might meet in the field the Duke repâ—yed again That he came thither with fifty Gentlemen but would return oâ—ly with twenty and if he met the Admiral he might perhaps make him â—ear moâ—e and in this fury he would have left the Court if the King had not laid an expâ—ess commaâ—d upoâ— him to stay After which new exasperations Andelot seâ—king all â—ccasâ—oâ—s of new sâ—â—â—dals publickly charged the Duke of Aumale in the Council that he had set one Captain Attin to murther him to which the Duke replyed with great shew of resentment It was necessary to lay hold of Attin who not being found culpable in any thing was at last released Both parties ceased not mutually to persecute each other both in words and deeds each of them accusing their adversaries that they went about to raise men and had an intent to disturb the quiet of the Kingdom Which though diligently inquired into proving but vain surmises at length it was thought the best way to continue the peace that the Lords of both parties should absent themselves from the Court where daily new occasions arising of conâ—estation between them the things already quieted were disturbed and subverted To this end and to give example to the rest the Constable with the Mareshal d'Anâ—ille his Son taking publick leave of the King and the Queen went to their Castles in the Isle of France So the great Lords following the same resolution within a few days after they all departed and particularly the Prince and the Admiral went severally to their own houses and the Duke of Aumale being left Heir to Madam Valentine his Mother-in-law who died about that time retired himself to Anet a place of pleasure which she had built There remained at the Court only the Cardinal of Lorain whom the King imployed in all businesses of importance and the Mareshal Momorâ—â—cy whose Government of Paris the Queen meant by some slight or other to take away that so powerful a people might not be under the command of a person that was inclined to innovations and that the chief support of the Kings Authority for the present might be put into such hands as depended absolutely upon himself At this same time happened the distastes and departure of the Queen of Navarre from Court For sentence being given by the King against Frances de Rohan by which the contract of marriage between Her and the Duke of Nemours though subscribed by their own hands was made void and he having concluded to marry Anne d' Este Widow to the late Duke of Guise Queen Iane after infinite but vain attempts in favour of her Neece at the last just as they were Marrying in the Kings presence caused one whom she had hired with promise of Reward to interpose and make a Protestation in the name of Frances but he being taken and imprisoned without interruption of the Marriage and finding her designs took no effect equally offended withal thinking her self injured and despised she resolved to leave the Court and retire into Bearn designing in her mind to raise new and more dangerous troubles She took for occasion and pretence of her departure That she could not be suffered a free exercise of her Religion For the King being advertised by the Popes Nuncio and divers others of the great resort of persons of all sorts to her lodging to hear Hugonot Sermons and knowing the Parisians were greatly
learn what was said she began to make her excuses to their Ministers but had a long private conference to that purpose with the Venetian Ambassador who being less interessed and more moderate than the rest was likeliest to credit her reasons wherefore beginning with the original of things she related to him at large every particular circumstance That King Francis the Second her eldest Son being very young when he came to the Crown and of a disposition rather to be governed than to exercise the charge of a King was forced of necessity to confer upon her the Supream Power in managing the affairs that it might neither fall upon the Princes of Bourbon not only the chief pretenders to the Crown but infected with Heresie and inclined to favour it nor yet upon the Guises men full of ambition and high pretences who nevertheless were so far Masters of the Kings will in regard of his Marriage with their Neece that she was constrained to admit them to a great part in the administration of the Government and in many things to yield to them for fear they might to the prejudice of the publick and her own private disgrace have cast her out of the Court and perhaps out of the Kingdom also That she had nevertheless ever endeavoured so to carry matters that the Kingdom might remain in quiet and enjoy the blessing of peace under a pious religious King and tender of the preservation of his people if the violence of the Prince of Conde and the malitious subtilty of the Admiral had not disturbed the course of things by turning not only against the Guises with whom they professed an open enmity but even against her self contriving through hate by wicked practises to deprive her of her life That the conspiracy of Amboise being discovered when all the Council concurred to proceed with extream severity she used her uttermost endeavour that a moderate way might be taken to quiet those troubles forgetting through desire of the common good her own private injuries and dangers That the Prince having continued to raise Insurrections in the Cities and Provinces and to plot even against the King himself at length fell into her hands at which times she ever proposed ways very far from cruelty or revenge saving the King of Navarre and divers others that were privy to the Princes counsels which was manifestly to be known when the Kings infirmity began to be mortal for the Princes of Guise pressing very earnestly that the sentence of death might be put in execution against those of Bourbon she resolutely opposed it approving rather gentle means than violent sharp remedies That she being afterwards left with the King a young Child not obeyed and her other Children yet as it were in the Cradle and her self a stranger with very few Confidents but an abundance of persons of interest about her though she had more need than ever to guard her self from those who plotted some one way some another the ruine or division of the Kingdom and her death and her Childrens yet overcome by so great and so streight a necessity to preserve the peace maintain the Crown and her Childrens Patrimony and to gain time till â—he King came of age she many times suffered the Princes fury and the insolencies of the Hugonots but that the impatience of the great ones with their discords and enmities the ambition of the Princes of Lorain and the contumacy of the Hugonots had at length raised a War to avoid which God was witness with her how much she had done and suffered that seeing the Kingdom through the infection of Heresie in a general combustion and the English and Germans called in to invade it she resolved to try whether by a resolute War she could extinguish and eradicate this evil and not be wanting in any thing that might be justified by Religion she had resolved to put it to a Battel which her Letters written to the Constable that were certainly amongst his Papers for she knew he kept them would still testifie That in the Battel the Constable was taken prisoner and the Mareshal of St. Andre killed and though the Victory inclined to the Kings Party with the taking of the Prince of Conde yet the Admiral remained still with a considerable Force to which was added the succours sent from England and a fresh powerful supply that came out of Germany That since this hapned that accident to the Duke of Guise whereby the Kings Party were deprived of a Head because for heâ— to command the Army was neither agreeable to her Sex or profession and there was not any body else fit to be trusted with so great a charge whence being led by the perswasions of many and particularly by the advice the Duke of Guise gave her just at his death to which she gave so much the more credit because at that time men use to forget private interests and speak truth succeeded a Peace by granting to the Hugonots a Liberty of Conscience though for no other end but to stay those enormous outrages desolations plundrings rapines sacriledges violences and tyrannies that destroyed the whole Kingdom hoping time would spend that humour which she was very well assured proceeded rather from private enmities and desire of â—ule than from love of Religion That she knew divers Princes very much blamed her for this Treaty by the same token there wanted not those who raised doubts concerning her belief but that she being satisfied in her own Conscience having placed her hopes in God expected from him her Justification That it could not be denied but the peace had rid the Kingdom of the Reiters who cruelly wasted the Country and driven the English out of Havre de Grace who were neasted there and given the poor people time to breathe from so many troubles and calamities by which they were ruined and devoured That the Peace brought one great advantage by taking from the Hugonots all manner of pretence to rebel That many things were done and suffered for no other purpose but to reduce the great ones to reason and to mitigate the fury of heresie trying divers means to arrive at this just holy end and to maintain the union of the Kingdom so profitable to Christianity and establish Peace so beloved of mankind but no remedies or agreement prevailing the Hugonots at length came to the taking of Arms That she had used all possible endeavour speedily to assemble the Kings Forces that the Enemy might not have time to receive supplies from abroad That she had very much pressed a Battel as it followed at St. Denis but with so little success that it was notoriously known things were afterward in a far worse condition than ever That since she had procured of the King to make the Duke of Anjou General of the Army to be assured no private inâ—erests should hinder the publick good That she hoped on Christmas-Eve last there would have been an absolute decision of the differences and
most diligently endeavoured by the Cardinal of Bourbon Uncle to both the Princes a man of great integrity and extraordinary vertue omitting no means which he thought might help to bring their tender minds to the Catholick Religion and every day with Father Maldonat a Jesuite and other â—octors spending many hours to instruct them It happened very opportunely that Monsieur des Rosiers who had been a Hugonot Minister and about that time was converted either because he clearly saw his former errours or to avoid the imminent danger and to get the favour of those in power disputed with great eloquence and learning against the Doctrine and opinions of Calvin which gave the Princes a reasonable colour and specious pretence of coming fairly into the bosom of the Church following the Conversion of him that had been a principal Teacher and Maintainer of their former Faith The King of Navarre was the first who yielding to the time and having resolved to conform himself to his present condition with less difficulty and greater expressions of approbation reconciled himself to the Church the greatest part of his Servants that were left alive following his example But the Prince of Conde who though of a younger age perhaps for want of experience was of a more wilful obstinate spirit notwithstanding he was assaulted by continual threats and perswasions refused still to turn Catholick till the King exasperated by his stubbornness causing him to be brought unto him for his last trial with an angry voice and terrible aspect spake only these three words unto him MASSE DEATH or BASTILE not suffering him to reply one word to the contrary which terrour joined to so many other motives that were made use of to overcome him bent his mind at last to follow the example of all the rest and being instructed by the Cardinal his Uncle he came publickly to Masse together with the Princess his Wife Sister to the Dutchess of Nevers and Guise and the same did Lowis Prince of Conty and Charles Count of Soissons his younger Brothers who persevered afterwards sincerely in the Catholick Religion From the Conversion of all these Princes the King and Queen conceived infinite hope of more peaceable times and for the better confirmation of it the King of Navarre and the Prince of Conde sent Ambassadors to render publick obedience to the Pope who rejoycing at their conversion which happened in the beginning of his Papacy answered their Embassie with many demonstrations of affection the whole Court of France being in the mean time very much satisfied that by those designs the Kingdom was brought into a most probable hope of a setled Peace and tranquillity for the perfecting whereof they endeavoured all possible means to reduce the City of Rochel But as bloody violent counsels are seldom seen to produce prosperous effects the wilfulness of men or the providence of God had already disposed otherwise for all those that by divers chances had escaped the slaughter of the Hugonots and did not comply with the Catholick profession according to the several qualities of places took different courses and resolutions Those of Britagne Normandy and Picardy Provinces along the coast of the Ocean Sea just over against England fled in great numbers into that Island not only to live there according to the Doctrine of their Faith but also uniting themselves under the command of the Count de Montgomery by the favour and protection of Queen Elizabeth to repass the Sea and some where or other to disturb the tranquillity of France Those of Daulphine Provence and Lionois retired into Swisserland where writing and enveighing continually against that cruel Massacre of all those of the same Religion they laboured to raise the Protestant Cantons and to make them break that ancient Confederacy whereby they were united to the Crown of France among these as we have said were the Sons of Andelot and the Admiral who by the fame of their Fathers authority and the tenderness of their years and the misery of their present condition stirred up the minds of every one to great pity and compassion Those of Champagne and Burgundy were gotten into the Cities of Germany and there endeavoured to make the actions of the King of France to be suspected and ill-interpreted by the Hans-towns and Protestant Princes But those near the Mediterranean and the inner parts of the Kingdom having no other way to save themselves took refuge into four strong Towns which were held by those of that party and there with all their might prepared for their own defence Those of the Isle of France Beausse and Nivernois had possessed Sanserre the inhabitants of Gascony and Languedoc fortified themselves in Nismes and Montauban and those of Anjou Poictou Xaintonge and part of Guienne were fled to Rochel as into a secure harbour There under the command of Iaques Henry Mayor of the City whose authority is chief in the Civil Government all the inhabitants had armed and divided themselves into four Companies each of two hundred and were daily exercised to learn the use of their arms besides which the Common Council to the number of an hundred and fifty were listed under Colours apart as the Colonels Company and commanded by Arandel the Mayors Lieutenant a man of great valour and experience besides these Trained Bands which served without pay for their own defence one thousand five hundred other Souldiers were gathered together from the neighbouring Provinces who under several Captains were paid by the contributions of the Cities and Towns near adjacent being all men of a resolute courage and who for the most part had been exercised in the late Wars To these were added about sixty Gentlemen fled thither from places thereabout and fifty seven Ministers who amidst the noise of Arms and toils of their Fortifications ceased not to stir up and encourage the people to defend themselves to the last man The preparations of Ammunition Cannon and other Warlike Instruments were not inferiour to the stoutness and readiness of the people for besides the abundance of Powder which they made continually having set up Mills for that purpose there were in the City-Magazine great store of Pikes and Muskets nine very great Culverins eight Cannon twelve Sacres thirty eight Field-pieces and above seventy Faulconets and Harquebuzes a Croc the managing whereof the Citizens daily practised with great diligence Noâ— was their care less in providing victual for neither sparing pains nor cost they had filled their Store-houses with Corn and Wine whereof the Isles near to them bore great abundance as of all other things needful for the sustenance of men in the longest Sieges Against all these preparations for War the King and Queen opposed not the gathering together of Arms but treaties and inducements to Peace for desiring to enjoy the fruits of their designs without new dangers and troubles they sought to reduce the Rochellers if not to a real at least to a seeming obedience and to
set down the causes why the Duke of Guise and his adherents endeavour to renew the Catholick League which before was almost laid aside The Reasons they alledge for themselves The quality of those persons that consented to and concurred with the League The design of drawing in the Cardinal of Bourbon and his resolution to embrace it Philip King of Spain takes the protection of it The Conditions agreed to with his Agents at Jain-ville The Popes doubtfulness in ratifying and approving the League and his determination to delay the time The King of France consults what is to be done for the opposing of that Vnion and the opinions differ He sends the Duke of Espernon to confer with the King of Navarre to perswade him to embrace the Catholick Faith and return to Court The King of Navarre at that Proposition resolves to stand firm to his Party The League takes occasion by that Treaty and makes grievous complaints They of the Low-Countries alienated from the King of Spain offer to put themselves under the Crown of France The King is uncertain what to do in it but at last remits them to another time King Philip entring into suspition of that business sollicites the Duke of Guise and the League to take up Arms To that end Forces are raised both within and without the Kingdom The King tries to oppose them but finds himself too weak The Cardinal of Bourbon leaves the Court retires to Peronne and with the other Confederates publishes a Declaration They draw an Army together in Champagne seize upon Thoul and Verdun The City of Marseilles riseth in favour of the League but the Conspirators are suppressed by the rest of the Citizens the same happens at Bourdeaux Lyons Bourges and many other places in the Kingdom side with the League The King answers the Declaration of the League he endeavours to disunite it by drawing many particular men from that Party as also the City of Lyons but seeing his design succeedeth not to his mind he resolves to treat an Agreement with the Confederates The Queen-Mother goes into Champagne to confer about it with the Duke of Guise and Cardinal of Bourbon After many Negotiations the Peace is concluded The King of Navarre publisheth a Declaration against the League and challengeth the Duke of Guise to a Duel He passeth it over and makes the Declaration be answered by others The Duke of Bouillon and Monsieur de Chastillon go into Germany to stir up the Protestant Princes in favour of the Hugonots The King consults of the manner of effecting what he had promised in the Agreement with the League The opinions differ and there ariseth great discord about it among his Councellors He resolves to make War against the Hugonots and coming to the Parliament forbids all other except the Roman Catholick Religion He sends for the Heads of the Clergy and the Magistrates of the City of Paris and with words full of resentment demands money of them for the War He prepares divers Armies against the Hugonots Pope Gregory the Thirteenth dies Sixtus Quintus succeeds him who at the instigation of the League declares the King of Navarre and the Prince of Conde to be Excommunicate and incapable to succeed in the Crown This Excommunication is diversly spoken of in France Many write against it and many in favour of it FRom the ashes of the Duke of Alancon the half-extinguisht sparks of the League began again to be kindled and burn afresh for the King by his policy in the Assembly at Blois and after by the delight and benefit every one received in Peace and by keeping down the Heads of the Hugonots and holding them at a distance having taken away the opportunities and specious pretences of the Lords of Guise it was of it self grown old and in very great part decayed and dissolved And though those Lords being stung to the quick by the excessive greatness of the Kings Minions and continually stirred up by the jealousie of his proceedings had failed of no occasion that might conveniently blemish his actions and bring themselves into reputation yet matters had till then been rather in unsetled debates than certainly concluded and had consisted more in words than in actions But now by reason of the Duke of Alancons death and that the King after having been ten years married had no probable hope of issue affairs began to be very much altered For as the King of Navarre's being first Prince of the Blood and so nearest the Succession of the Crown did spur forward the readiness of the Guises his old corrivals and natural enemies so likewise it afforded them a fair occasion to renew the League that they might take a course betimes to hinder the Kingdom from falling into the hands of the Hugonot Prince to the universal ruine of the Catholicks and the total overthrow of Religion Wherefore the disgusts they received at Court and the suspicion which for many years they had conceived concurring to sollicite them and this emergent occasion offering a fit opportunity they began again not only to repair the old structure but also to contrive and build up new designs The disasters which the Lords of Guise received at Court were many For besides seeing themselves excluded from the Kings favour and from the administration of State-affairs wherein they were wont to hold the first place and whereof they now did not at all participate as likewise being so little able to do any thing for their dependents and adherents because the King reserved unto himself alone the disposing of all Gifts and Honours they were also highly offended at the greatness of these new men who not favoured by the lustre of ancient Families nor raised by the merits of their own actions but only by the liberality of their Prince were advanced so high that with a sudden splendour they eclipsed all those Honours which they with infinite pains and dangers had attained to in the course of so many years And though the Duke of Ioyeuse by his Marriage with the Queens Sister was allied unto the House of Lorain and seemed in many things to be interessed with them yet they disdained to lie under the shadow of anothers protection where they were wont to see an infinite number of persons shelter themselves under the favourable wing of their Power and Authority To this was added that the Duke of Espernon either through his own natural instinct or the hopes of raising himself upon the ruines of the Great Ones or through the friendship which he had held from his youth with the King of Navarre who was most averse from any familiarly with them seemed to despise and undervalue the merits and power of so great a family and failed not upon all occasions to sting and persecute them on the other side obstinately favouring and in all opportunities maintaining and assisting the Princes of Bourbon Whereupon it was commonly believed that he to abase the credit and lessen the reputation of the
against his lawful Prince without any reasonable occasion which he had long born withal and dissembled out of his desire of the general quiet and out of the gentleness of his own disposition But that after the last Pacification in which he had profusely granted more to the League than they knew how either to demand or desire notwithstanding the Act of Oblivion of all things past and the Prohibition of all such-like practices for the time to come the Duke of Guise persisting obstinately in his first designs violating so many Oaths so many Promises and so many Sacraments reiterated among the holy Ceremonies and in the presence of the Assembly of the States which represented the majestick face of the whole French Nation had both begun again and continued the same things leagues and intelligences with Foreign Princes receiving of moneys and pensions from Spain agreements with the Duke of Savoy to the prejudice of the Crown factions and practices with the States to tie up the liberty of his Prince to exclude the rightful Successors of the Crown and by seditious wicked acts to transfer the whole Government upon himself by which things he made himself guilty of High Treason and had often manifestly incurred the crime of Rebellion insomuch as Justice neither could nor ought to forbear to punish him thereby once to remove the perpetual danger and unquietness in which he kept the whole Kingdom and all good men That the ordinary forms of judging and sentencing could not possibly be observed For no Prisons were secure nor Bonds sufficient to restrain his power that no Officers would have dared to examine him no Judge to sentence him nor no Power would have been able to execute the sentence That the King himself was Justice and that he had so many proofs as did more than abundantly condemn and convince him to be guilty That he was assured he had satisfied God's Justice his own Conscience and the good and quietness of his Kingdom and therefore he intreated the Legat to represent the truth as it was unto the Pope to the end that the arts of his Enemies might not by their false relations transform the face of so necessary so just an action These things were no news unto the Legat being fully informed of the reports already divulged and the Kings reasons contained peradventure what he thought himself And because he firmly believed that the Shepherd being struck the flock would easily be scattered the greater part of the Heads being taken and the rest much unprovided of strength and force to resist the Kings power in so sudden an accident not much valuing the popular commotion which he foresaw might ensue because he thought the seditions of the people were like a fire of straw which riseth with great violence but presently ceaseth and is extinguished he judged it not fit to alienate the Kings mind from the Apostolick Sea but to confirm and establish it to the protection of Religion and with a gentle rein and moderate respect to withhold him from agreeing precipitately with the Hugonots Wherefore seeming to believe that the Pope as disinteressed and as a common Father would kindly give ear unto his reasons he only exhorted him to shew that his words and excuses were true by a firm and principal argument which was To persevere in the resolution of protecting the Catholick Religion and extinguishing Heresie that by that means he might perswade the Pope and the whole World that he had been constrained by necessity and not drawn by hatred to the Catholick party Whereas not persisting in that safe Christian determination he should authorize the false reports of the League and give occasion to have it thought that his inclination to favour the King of Navarre and uphold the Hugonots had moved him to put to death the Head and imprison the principal Members of the Catholick party This point seemed so important to the Legat that he enlarged himself long upon it till the King gave assurance by an Oath that if the Pope would unite himself with him in mind and Forces he would endeavour the extirpation of Heresie with more fervour than ever and that he was firmly resolved to suffer only the Catholick Religion in his Kingdom After which asseveration accompanied with effectual words and gestures the Legat made no scruple of treating with him with the same intimacy and confidence as before thinking he had obtained that point which would serve to satisfie the Pope since the King though exasperated with the injuries of the League did yet confirm himself in his wonted obedience and veneration of Religion and that though the Duke of Guise were removed he yet continued the Catholick Union and the determination of making War against the Hugonots wherefore he gave the King no doubtful hope that the Pope would be satisfied with his reasons Nor did he think fit to pass any further at that meeting but believing he should have time enough afterwards to speak about the enlargement of the Cardinals he would not in a time of so great distraction and in a conjuncture wherein the Kings mind might waver anticipate businesses unseasonably but proceed with well-pondered counsels first setling the publick and then private interest But the King having entertained great hopes by the Legats words and seeing that he seemed not much troubled at the imprisonment of the Cardinals and other Prelates resolved to go forward and to free himself from the Cardinal of Guise a no less fierce and terrible Head of the League than his Brother had been To which end having found the Five and forty unwilling to imbrue their hands in the blood of the Cardinal he commanded du Gast one of the Captains of his Guard that he should cause him to be put to death the next morning by his Souldiers So upon the Four and twentieth day being Christmas-Eve in the morning Captain Gast being come into the Chamber where he was with the Archbishop of Lyons and where they had been all night in most terrible fear confessing one another and watching in continual prayer he bad the Archbishop come along with him for the King called for him At which words the Cardinal believing that he was led to death said to him My Lord think upon God But the Archbishop ghessing better than he and not willing to fail in the same Office replied Nay rather do you think of him my Lord and going away he was brought into another room A while after du Gast returned and told the Cardinal that he had Commission to put him to death To which he only answered that he desired time to recommend his Soul to God And having kneeled down he made a short Prayer and covering his head with the lower part of his Robe he undauntedly bad him execute his Commission when presently four Souldiers armed with Partezans slew him with many wounds and his body was carried to the same place where the Dukes Brother lay The King doubted
to retire in safety to the Plain Tremblecourt and Chastaigneraye who divided into two fleeing Squadrons followed the steps of the Germans having seen this beginning rushed suddenly out of the Wood and losing no time advanced as fast as ever they could to the same Trench where closing with the Flank of the German Battalion they ran together being filled with courage and fury by their happy success to give a violent assault to the second Work On the other side the Mareschal de Byron was run thither to encourage Colonel Galati to defend the Fortifications undauntedly But the assault was so hot and unexpected by reason of the sudden taking of the Maladery that the Swisses of the Guard giving back and the Mareschal de Byron being thrown from his horse that Work also was with incredible celerity gained by the Enemy The Duke of Mayenne having heard of this fortunate beginning and following the conjuncture of so fair an opportunity gave order to the Duke of Nemours and the Count de Sagone to advance with the Light-horse on the right hand of the Trenches already taken and to the Duke of Aumale to fall on with One thousand and two hundred Horse on the left side and he himself according as the quality of the situation would permit followed with the remainder of the Army divided into several Squadrons The King full of grief and anger for the unthoughâ— of loss of the Trenches and seeing it was necessary to fight with his utmost force encouraged the Duke of Montpensier with effectual words to charge the Duke of Aumale and the Grand Prior on the other side to encounter the Duke of Nemours and the Light-horse of the League The Grand Prior but young yet desirous to get honour and with his own hand to take some revenge for the Kings death coming up to the head of his troop and presently putting down the Bever of his Helmet ran full gallop to meet the Enemy and having seen the Count de Sagone at the head of his Squadron he called him by his name and challenged him to fight hand to hand which being no less gallantly accepted they charged one another so resolutely that the Grand Prior receiving a Pistol shot in the forehead of his Helmet reeled often and was like to have faln but the Count de Sagone wounded with a brace of Bullets in the side and left thigh fell from his horse dead upon the earth With no less fury than their Commanders did the Kings Light-horse rush upon the Enemy But their number was so much greater being followed by two Squadrons of Reiters whom the Duke of Mayenne had sent to second them that they were forced to retreat so that still giving ground yet still obstinately resisting they were furiously driven back to the foot of the Hill whither the Cannon from Arques reached both to defend their own men and repel the violence of the Enemy In which Conflict hot and bloody on both sides the Sieur de Baqueville died fighting who was the Grand Prior's Lieutenant-General On the other side the Duke of Montpensier having met with those who fleeing from the Trenches ran disorderly toward the Plain being half routed by them had much ado to disengage himself and keep his ranks and being come up to close with the Squadron led by the Duke of Aumale discouraged by their number that came up picquering and discharging their Pistols he retired still toward the descent being fiercely pursued at the heels by the Cavalry of the League The King who was between both the Bodies and who to give fitting orders had unadvisedly advanced to the steep of the right hand Hill was so engaged in the midst of many Squadrons of the Enemy that being abandoned almost by all and his courage not suffering him to flee he thought himself absolutely lost and with cries intreaties and threatnings rode stopping and reproving sometimes one sometimes another and bewailing himself with a loud voice That in all France there could not be found fifty Gentlemen who had courage enough to die in company with their King Nor did any man doubt but if the Duke of Mayenne had come up time enough with the rest of the Army the King and his whole Forces had at that time been utterly supprest But whilst he leading on the Cavalry by an uneven troublesom way feared they would be put in disorder and therefore marched very softly and turned back often to make them keep rank and file he gave the King convenient time to recover For in the interim the Sieur de Chastillon with two Regiments of French Infantry having quitted the Hill on the left side where he had stood from the beginning and seeing the danger in which his party was marched up with all speed to the place of battel and crying out to the King Courage Sire we are here and will die with you He charged the Regiments of Tremblecourt and Chastaigneraye with so much fury that having taken the Count de Belin prisoner and the chief Commander of the Lorainers with the death of above three hundred of their men he beat them out of the Trench At which time the tyde of the business turning in a moment the Mareschal de Byron being happily escaped out of the Enemies hand had with Colonel Galati made the Swisses stand who before were running away and facing about with as much gallantry as before they were fleeing with haste they marched up and joined with Monsieur de Chastillon who having already taken the first Trench was rallying his men to assault the Maladery The King himself being valiantly come up thither caused the Baron de Byron with an hundred Gentlemen who were gathered together about him from several parts to alight from their horses and having placed them in the first file of the Infantry set them on without losing further time to give a fierce assault to the great Trench The service was hot and bloody for the space of a quarter of an hour but Collalto's Landskenets already tired with their march and with fighting being charged on all sides gave back at last and being beaten and driven out with a great slaughter quitted the Maladery being repelled with as much fury by the Swisse Pikemen and French Muskettiers as they had by cunning been easily drawn into it at the beginning In the mean time the King whose admirable celerity did in such a time of need supply all wants in all places with threescore Horse which he had rallied with much ado ran up to the Duke of Montpensier and turned vigorously to charge the Squadron of the Duke of Aâ—male who being Master of the field did already over run all the descent so that after an obstinate fight which lasted about three quarters of an hour he broke quite thorow it and followed it fighting to the craggy part of the Hill The Grand Prior on the other side who before had been forced to retire being succoured in
hundred Horse and Colonel Boniface with Five hundred Foot sallyed out at the Porte Cau-choise and charging first the Cavalry and then the Regiment of English skirmished fiercely for many hours though at last being weary on both sides they retired willingly without advantage yet the besieged vaunted of a happy beginning by reason of the death of a Nephew of the Earl of Essex who his courage having drawn him into the most dangerous place of the fight was slain by Borosey with a Pistol-shot in the throat On the other side Captain Perdriel with Two hundred other Horse and Captain Basin with Four hundred Foot sallied at the Porte de Martinville and having skirmished long with the French Light-horse led by Francesco Orsino Sieur de la Chappelle they were forced to retire though they received not much harm because they were defended in their retreat by the Artillery of the nearest Bulwark But the Mareschal as soon as he had entrenched Darnetal to the end his Army might lie secure from the sprightly forwardness which he saw in those of the Town set himself for some dayes following without advancing towards the City to divert the course of the Robec which little Rivulet running through the Field and entering into the Town drove eleven Mills near the Porte St. Hillaire to the great conveniency of those within nor was it very difficult to turn it another way which would have much incommodated the Town and made them suffer exceedingly if Villars foreseeing the diversion of the water had not provided against it before by having caused a great many hand-mills to be made which were continually kept going by the Country-men who to fly the Enemy were in great numbers gotten within the Walls While they wrought to divert the water the Mareschal no less intent upon art than he was upon force of arms held a Treaty with Captain Graveron who was in the City to get into his hands the Porte de Beauvais which he was appointed to guard and this was managed by a kinsman of his who was one of the Mareschals servants and who before the siege had often gone disguised into the City for that purpose But Graveron having revealed the Treaty to the Governour and received Orders to draw the Enemy by night into an Ambush he could not fain so well but that the art was discovered whereupon this treaty vanished with little damage on either side But the next day the Chevalieâ— Piccard sallying out from St. Catherine's to skirmish and the Earl of Essex with the English coming out of the Wood of Turinge they contended with words no less than deeds for Piccard upbraided the English that not having courage enough to revenge the death of the Earl's Nephew they â—ought to advance their designs by treachery they came to ill language and to give the Lye for which as soon as the skirmish was ended there came an English Trumpet from the Earl of Essex to challenge the Governor which the Chevalier Piccard who had spoke the words having answered it came not to a duel for the Earl refused to fight with any other than the Governor and the Governor though he refused him not yet he referr'd the Duel till another time when he should be free of the charge of that present defence to which as a publick cause he was both first and more deeply engaged All the Moneth of November was spent in continual Skirmishes and hourly encounters the Mareschal in the mean time being imployed in fortifying his quarters drawing Artillery and Ammunition and causing provisions to be brought in expecting the Kings coming up to the siege with the rest of the Army who being come into the Camp upon the third of December sent an Herald to summon the City but being very stoutly answered by those within the next day they broke ground to make their approaches to the Wall The King lay at Darnetal with the Mareschal de Biron and the greatest part of the Nobility that followed him having the Swissers flanked with the Regiment of his Guards for the defence of his own quarters The Viscount de Turenne whom in the right of his Wife we will begin to call the Duke of Bouillon was quartered on the right hand with the Cavalry and the German Infantry spreading themselves a great way in the Neighbouring Villages upon the way that leads toward Diepe The French Infantry having lost the Sieur de Chastillon who was wont to command it he being dead a while before of a natural death was led by divers Colonels of renowned fame and lay close by the Germans but on the right hand of the King's Quarters towards the Porte Cau-choise and the Porte de Beauvais The English Foot lay on the left hand of the King and the Swissers entrenched under the Wood of Turinge against the Porte St. Hillaire and the Mount of St. Catherine The Baron de Giury and the Sieur de la Chappelle with the Light-horse spred themselves on the left hand of these upon the way that leads to Pont de l' Arche and thence towards Paris And the Count de Soissons with Captain Raulet beyond the Riveâ— Seine over which there was a passage made by a Bridge upon Boats were quartered right over against the Fauxbourg of St. Severe When the whole Town was thus girt round there being neither the hinderance nor the conveniency of Suburbs for the Governor at the arrival of the Army had caused them to be burnt the King commanded Colonel St. Denis to take up his Post in the Church of St. Andre which was the onely building that because it was built of stone remained yet standing though they had endeavoured to demolish it but he soon perceived that Villars had foreseen the mischief which he might receive from thence and provided a very convenient remedy For two exceeding great Culverins were discovered upon a Cavalier raised within which did so batter that place that the French had scarcely possessed themselves of it when they were forced to quit it This attempt having proved ineffectual the King began to cause two Trenches to be cast up one to approach St Catherines Mount which being drawn from the Wood of Turinge was wrought at by the English and the other to end just against the Porte St Hilaire at which the French Infantry wrought by turns But the Sieur de Villars besides the other works which were thrown up day and night and by a great abundance of Labourers who within a short space had dammed up the Porte de St. Hilaire with Earth having raised a very high Cavalâ—er close by it filled the Moat with Casamats and fortified the Counterscarp with little Ravelines had also before the Forts of St. Catherine where the utmost force of the siege was applied drawn a Brest-work of eighteen or twenty foot thick flanked with two Ravelines onely for the use of Muskettiers having neither Shoulders Orillons nor Retreats and before this
the Earth to look upon humane Laws you forget not the divine Law that came from Heaven It is not Nature nor the right of Nations that teacheth us to acknowledge our Kings but the Law of God the Law of his Church and that of the Kingdom which require from the Prince that is to command us not only proximity of blood which you stand upon but also the profession of the Catholick Religion and this quality hath given name to that Law which we call the Fundamental Law of the State always followed and observed by our Ancestors without any exception though the other of proximity of blood hath been sometime altered the Kingdom remaining nevertheless entire and in its former dignity To come therefore to so holy and necessary a reconciliation we accept the Conference which you demand provided it may be only between Catholicks and to deliberate about the means of preserving Religion and the State And because you desire it should be between Paris and St. Denis we intreat you to like of Mont-Martre St. Meaux or Chaliot in the Queens Palace and that you would be pleased to send those that shall be deputed by you upon some day you shall think fit before the end of this month whereof we being advertised will not fail to have ours there and to proceed with sincere affection free from all passion praying to God that the event of it may be such that we may find the preservation of Religion and of the State and a good secure durable peace as we also pray him to conserve you and give you his Spirit to know and imbrace the most wholsom profitable counsel for the general safety This answer being received and read in the Council of the King who was not yet come back from his journey into Poictou they that were there present determined to prosecute the Conference but to defer the particulars thereof till they had the Kings consent to them and the general votes of the Council Thus by a Writing full of courteous expressions they excused the delay and finally having received their approbation and replied again with other Letters they concluded to hold the Conference at Surenne between Paris and St. Denis There was great contention at Paris about the election of the persons that were to intervene at this Treaty for the Legat and the Spanish Ambassadors strove to procure that one of them might be Guilliaume Rose Bishop of Senlis a man of a sowre nature and sharp eloquence which for many years he had profusely used against the Kings and against their party and on the other side they that inclined to peace desired the Sieur de Villeroy might be admitted who by many was excluded as partial to the King at last for the common satisfaction they were both left out and those that were unanimously chosen were the Archbishop of Lyons Pericard Bishop of Auranche Godefrâ—y de Billy Abbot of St. Vincent de Laon the Admiral Villars the Count de Belin the Baron de Talmay the Sieurs de Montigny and Montaulin President Ieannin and President Maistre Estienne Bernard Advocate in the Parliament of Dijon and Honoré de Lâ—urent Counsellor in the Parliament of Aix They of the Kings side chose the Archbishop of Bourges the Sieurs de Chavigny and Bellieure the Count de Schombergh President de Thou Nicholas Sieur de Rambouillett the Sieur de Pontcarré and Secretary Revol But at the first meeting with the mutual consent of the Deputies there were added the Sieur de Vic Governour of St. Denis on the Kings side and for the League the Sieur de Villeroy who the Duke of Mayenne desired by all means should assist in the Treaty and in the progress of it the Sieurs de Rosne and la Chastre were likewise admitted In the mean time the Duke of Feria upon the second of April had solemn publick audience of the States at which in a Latin Oration he proffered the Catholick Kings assistance and supplies to the Assembly for the conservation of Religion and the election of such a King as the condition of the times required and likewise presented Letters from King Philip wherein after many courteous expressions he referred himself to what the Duke of Feria and the other Ambassadors should represent in his name who said that they reserved themselves to do it when the Duke of Mayenne and the other Princes should be come unto the States who were yet at the meeting at Rheims with the Duke of Lorain There their minds were no less disagreeing nor the opinions less differing than in the States for the Duke of Lorain seeing the rest were not inclined to yield to him as Head of the Family and knowing the Spaniards were already engaged in the design of getting the Infanta elected began to be weary of the War which he had sustained all those late years to the great damage of his people and though the Spaniards sometimes scattered reports that the Infanta being chosen Queen should take the Cardinal his Son to be her Husband it seemed to him so absurd that he was not at all inclined to believe it and since he could attain to nothing else would have been content with Peace whereby the Cities of Thoul and Verdun should remain his On the other side the Duke of Mayenne desired he should persist in Arms and favour the election of him and his Sons thinking his pains and endeavours deserved that reward and that no other body at that present was able to undergo that weight but he rather gave signs of this intention than propounded it and laboured dexterously to insinuate it into the rest among which as the Dukes of Aumale and Elboeuf adhered to him so the Dukes of Nemours and Guise assented not both being intent to endeavour for themselves and full of hopes that the Spaniards might at last concur to marry the Infanta to one of them The Duke of Mayenne strove to withdraw them from that thought by letting them see it was far from the intent of the Spaniards who had no other design than to get the Crown into the power of the Infanta and by her either in her life-time or after her death to have it united and incorporated to that of Spain to which it was very repugnant to give her a young French Husband and such an one as might be able not only to govern her but also the people and forces of the Nobility and Kingdom It was a remarkable thing that though this was an Assembly of the House of Lorain the King should yet have a very great party in it for by the Grand Duke of Thuscany's consent Girolamo Gondi had formerly begun and now continued to treat with the Duke of Lorain to induce him and the rest to think of agreeing with the King proposing his Conversion full caution and security for Religion and to give his Sister in Marriage to the Prince of Lorain with those Cities which the Duke desired
to send a Captain to the Archduke that he might know the certainty of his Command which being courteously granted he sent Federico Pacciotto who brought express leave to make Composition whereupon having treated a while they agreed to surrender upon these Conditions That the Monuments of Hernando Telles Portocarrero and of all other Commanders slain in the siege should not be stirred nor their Inscriptions cancelled it being nevertheless lawful for the Spaniards to take away their Bodies when they pleased That all the Souldiers that were in the City should march out in Battalia with their Arms and Baggage Colours flying Drums beating and Trumpets sounding and should be fuâ—nished by the King with Carts to carry away their Goods and their Sick as far as Dourlans That if any sick or wounded person should remain in the City he should receive good usage and have liberty to go away at his pleasure That the Souldiers should be exempt from paying for any Physick or Surgery they had had in the City and likewise for Two thousand pound weight oâ— Musket-Bullet which they had taken up from particular men and made use of That Prisoners on both sides should be set free without Ransom That the Towns-men might stay without being oppressed and be used as good Subjects renewing their Oath of Allegiance to the King of France but those that would march out with the Souldieâ—s might have free liberty so to do That there should be a Truce for the six next ensuing days within the term of which if they were not relieved with at least â—wo thousand men they should deliver up the City and that in the mean time they should give Hostages for security a Spanish Commander an Italian and a Walloon The Serjeant Major carried the Capitulations to the Archduke who having ratified them the Defendents of Amiens marched forth upon the Five and twentieth of September being Eighteen hundred Foot and four hundred Horse the Marquiss of Montenegro being at the head of them in a Souldier-like gallantâ—y upon a brave Horse wiâ—h a Truncheon in his hand and being come to the place where the King and the whole Army in Battalia expected him saying aside his Truncheon alighted and kissed the Kings knee and said so loud that he was heard by the by-standers That he delivâ—red up that place into the hands of a Souldier-King since it had not pleased the King his Master to cause it to be relieved by Souldier-Commanders which words moved every one to consider that if the Spanish Army had either taken the way beyond the River or laid hold of the occasion which fortune had presented them at the disorder in the Trenches the siege had certainly been raised The King answered That it ought to satisfie him that he had defended the place like a Souldier and now restored it into the hand of the lawful King with the honour of a Souldier To these words he added many other favourable demonstrations as well toward him as the other Commanders whom he desired to know by name one by one and being dismissed with the praise of the whole Army they were convoyed safe to Doâ—rlans There entred into Amiens the Constable who received the place the Mareschal de Byron and the Duke of Mombason and after them the King himself who having visited the Cathedral Church gave the Government of the Town to Monsieur de Vic and went forth without making any stay as well out of a suspition of the Plague as out of a desire to march after the Archduke who having sâ—aid only two days upon the Pass of the River Ants was in this interim gotten within the Walls of Arras Upon the six and twentieth day there hapned an accident which if it had faln ouâ— before would have discomposed all things but at this time it proved rather a matter of sport than trouble for there brake out suddenly so great a Fire in the Kings quarters the cause thereof not being at all known that in a short space all the Huts were burned which was no way harmful either to Men or Baggage because the Camp was already raised and marching away The whole Army rejoyced calling it a Bonfire and many from thence took a good Omen of future quiet which was confirmed by the event for the General of the Cordeliers being returned from the Court of Spain and come with Letters to the Archduke about the same time caused an interview upon the Confines which divide Piâ—ardy from the County of Artâ—is between Secretary Villeroy on the Kings part and President Riâ—cardoâ—to for the Archduke who determined that at Vervins a place upon the same Confines famous for the Peaces that had formerly been treated there the Cardinal-Legaâ— Father Francisco Gonzaga Bishop of Mantua the Popes Nuncio and the Deputies on both parts should meet together to apply themselves to a Treaty of Peace That which moved King Philip to an inclination to Peace was the urgency of the affairs of Flanders which by reason they had been abandoned for two years together were extreamly much gone down the wind so that the necessity of his own affairs constrained him not to think of getting that which was anothers To this was added the exceeding great scarcity of money for which he had been fain this very year to suspend all payments to the disreputation of his greatness and the undoing of those Merchants that were wont to have dealings with the Crown Nor was the respect of establishing the Succession upon his Son last in his consideration for being now far in years and knowing that his death drew near he desired that his Successor who was very young might not be ingaged in a great and troublesom War against a King of manly age and strength full of experience and upheld by the manifest favour of Fortune His dependents add that being in the latter end of his life careful to satisfie his Conscience he desired to end his days with the Peace of Christendom and the restitution of that which was not his own yet it is most clear that the loss of Amiens gave great force to his first disposition and perswaded even the Cardinal Archduke who being to marry the Infanta Isabella and with her to have the Dominion of the Low-Countries endeavoured not to have so powerful and so troublesom a War as that with the King of France Secretary Villeroy returned with the resolved appointment and found that the King with his Army following the prosperity of Fortune was incamped before Dourlans for having made an incursion even to the very Walls of Arras filling the whole Country with terrour he perceived afterward that the places of Picardy were left behind with very great danger and therefore was come to besiege Dourlans as the nearest place the taking whereof would be of wondrous advantage to his Country But already the Rains of Autumn did very much incommode and annoy him and his Army which had been healthful till then
not only by descent being of the same Blood which that people were used for many Ages past to obey but in vertue also being singularly valiant and most deeply wise in the Government of affairs consenting that to his posterity should descend the same power and the same name until a legitimate descendent of his failing the right should return to the people of chusing a new Lord. But because Authority without limitation commonly converts it self into destructive licentiousness at the same time that they elected their King they would establish certain Laws which were to remain perpetual and immutable in all times and in which should be comprehended in brief the general consent as well in the succession of the Kings as in every other part of the future Government These Laws proposed by their Priests which were anciently denominated Salii and decreed of in the fields which from the river Sala take the same name were called Saliqâ—e Laws and after the establishment of the Kingdom original and fundamental Constitutions After this principal foundation all other things resolved on that were necessary for the present Government and advantageous to the design in hand having passed the Rhine under the conduct of their first King Pharamond they betook themselves to the conquest of the Gallia's about the year of our Salvation Four hundred and nineteen leaving the Dominion of Franconia to the old Prince Marcomir The Gallia's were as yet possessed by the Roman Emperours but much declined from their first strength and greatness partly through Civil dissentions partly through the incursions of divers barbarous Nations by whose fury they had been long time much wasted and spoiled which was the cause that the Franks Army found much less difficulty in their conquest than the Romans did formerly Nevertheless they were not subdued without great resistance and much time spent For the Roman Legions appointed to guard that Province being joined for their own defence with the Gauls themselves held the first King Pharamond at a bay till his end drawing near he left the care of the whole enterprize and of the people to his son Clodian This man of a fierce courage in the first flower of his age having many times fought with the inhabitants of the Country and having overcome and driven out the Roman forces began to master that part of Gallia which lying nearest to the Rhine is by common consent of Writers called Belgica To him succeeded Meroue whether brother or son to Clodian is not certain but out of doubt nearest to him and of the same race conformable to the Salique Law He with happy success advancing into Gallia-Celtica propagated the Empire of the Franks as far as to the City of Paris And now thinking he had gotten enough to mainâ—ain his people and to form a compleat moderate Empire stayed the course of his Conquests and having conceived thoughts of peace joined both Nations under the same name and with moderate Laws and a peaceful kind of rule founded and established in the Gallia's the Kingdom of the French This was the first original and foundation-stone of that Monarchy in which as the descent of their Kings hath ever constantly remained in the same Progeny so in all Ages the first rules of Government have been most religiously observed neither power of Command nor authority of Laws losing any thing through time of their first observation and ancient splendor Those Laws ordained in the beginning by the universal consent of all the people exclude the Female Sex from the Royal Succession and admit only to the inheritance of the Crown the nearest Males by which means the Empire of that Nation by a continued and uninterrupted Succession always remaineth in the same Blood From the disposition of this Law the Princes of the Blood derive their name and priviledges for being all capable through default of the next heir in their order to succeed to the Crown they have in that consideration great interest in the State and the priviledges of their families preserved with great reverence from the people no time nor distance of degrees prejudicing the conservation of that order which Nature prescribes them to the Succession of the Kingdom For which cause though in the course of time divers families through sundry accidents have changed their names as some have taken the sirname of Valois others of Bourbon others of Orleans others of Angolesme others of Vendosme others of Alanson and others of Montpensier yet for all that they have not lost the trace of their Royal Consanguinity nor the right of succeeding to the Crown but the pre-eminencies of their Blood and the same priviledges are ever from time to time preserved to all And because it is evident how much they are all concerned in the custody and preservation of so great an inheritance of which they are all successively capable it hath therefore ever been a custom that the next of Blood should be Guardian to the Pupils and Governour of the Kingdom during the minority or absence of the lawful King Reason willing that the Government should not be committed to strangers or those altogether Aliens who might endeavour to destroy and dismember the Union of so noble a Body but to such who born of the same stock ought in reason to attend the preservation of the Crown as their own birth-right Nor is this Prerogative a custom only but the States-General of the Kingdom which Assembly hath the power of the whole Nation having often confirmed it with their consent and ordered it to be so it is since become as a decreed Law and a firm established Constitution The Royal House then enjoys two Pre-eminencies the one in matter of Inheritanee the other of Administration that when any King dies without male-children this when the absence or minority of the Prince requires some other person for the Government and management of the State These two Priviledges that are always inherent in those of the Royal Line have been a cause that the Princes of the Blood have ever held a great authority with the people and had a great part in the Government of the Kingdom For they themselves have ever been very vigilant in the administration of the Empire which they esteemed reasonably enough as their own and the people conceiving the Government might at some time or other fall into their hands have ever had them in great veneration and so much the rather because it hath often been found by experience that the eldest Line failing the Crown hath been devolved upon the younger family So the Regal Authority having an orderly succession in the race of Meroâ—es afterwards in the family of Carolins and lastly in that of the Capetts after many Ages Lewis the Ninth of that name possessed the Kingdom He who for innocency of life and integrity of manners was after his death deservedly written in the Kalendar of Saints Of him were born two sons Philip the
Third sirnamed The Hardy and Robert the younger Count of Cleremont From Philip came the eldest Line which enjoyed the Crown more than three hundred years with the sirname of Valois from Robert descended the House of Bourbon so called as it is a custom among the French from that State of which they bare the Title and enjoyed a long time as their own Inheritance Now whilst the House of Valois possessed the Crown the House of Bourbon held by consequence the rank of first Prince of the Blood and enjoyed all those priviledges which we said before by Law and Custom belonged to that quality This Family great not only through nearness to the Crown but also in large possessions abundance of treasure reputation in war and fruitfulness of off-spring producing likewise frequently men of a liberal nature and popular civility easily exceeded the limits of a private life and with the sinews of its own strength together with the favour of the people established it self in an excessive state of greatness which begetting jealousie and envy in the Kings who were displeased at so great an eminence and authority bred many occasions of hate and suspition which sometimes also brake forth into open war For Lewis the Eleventh King of France made war upon Iohn Duke of Bourbon in the war intituled For the Commonwealth and Lewis the Twelfth though before he came to the Crown tried the success of Arms with Peter of Bourbon and so what by open defiance what through secret malice the Kings of France grew daily more and more jealous of the Authority of the Princes of Bourbon At the length Francis the First came to the Crown who in the beginning of his Reign led by the ardour and facility of youth began with great demonstration of affection to confer honour upon the chief Princes of the Blood it seeming a thing suitable to that magnificence he shewed towards all men and to the greatness of his mind that those Lords most nearly allied to him should be most exalted both for the honour of the Royal Line and for his own particular reputation And having observed in Charles of Bourbon who was the first Prince of the Blood a generous courage and a genius fit for any employment he promoted him to be High Constable of France and resolved that all the weighty affairs and principal charges of the Kingdom should pass only thorow his own hands and those that were nearest of relation to himself But when he came to age more mature the fervour of youth being past and finding by being conversant in affairs the reasons by which his Predecessors guided their counsels with how much greater earnestness he strove formerly to raise the House of Bourbon with so much the more anxiety of mind he laboured now to abase their excessive greatness Nor did fortune fail to present an occasion wonderfully proper for the execution of his design For there being a Process at that time between Louyse the Kings Mother and Charles of Bourbon for the same Dutâ—hy which he then held the King thought with himself that if he caused Judgment to be given in favour of his Mother and deprived the House of Bourbon of their fundamental revenues the Duke would easily fall from that power and dignity which was chiefly upheld by so splendid a fortune But Charles having by the preceeding of his business discovered the deceitful practices of the Chancellor Antonio del Prato by the Kings instigation against him disdain of the injury and fear of ruine which was inevitably prepared so much prevailed over him that joyning secretly with the Emperour Charles the Fifth and Henry the Eighth of England he began to conspire against the Kingdom and the very person of the King Which being discovered he was constrained to flee and afterwards bare Arms against him and continuing that course it so fell out that he was last of all General to Caesar in the Battel at Pavia where after a bloody slaughter in the the French Army the King invironed by divers Squadrons of Foot was at length taken prisoner For these facts Charles being declared Rebel and all his estate confiscate and having within a short time after at the taking of Rome lost his life also the House of Bourbon fell from that envied greatness which had caused such jealousie in the King This was not sufficient to stop the persecution now begun for although Charles were unhappily dead without children and though the others of the family did in no way partake of his counsels notwithstanding the King more swayed with revenge of the injuries past than the force of reason all the Lords of that House more through hate of their name than any delinquency in their persons were utterly deprived of all favour at Court and wholly removed from the management of affairs And although this rigour was in time somewhat lessened and the Kings mind so far mitigated as to forget things past and to lay by the ill opinion he had conceived of them notwithstanding he continued studiously to endeavour to cut off all means whereby those Princes might return to their former honour and that power to which they were formerly with so much favour advanced This secret intention of the Kings was very well observed by Charles Duke of Vendosme the chief of that House Wherefore forcing himself with moderation of mind to overcome the suspition and jealousies that so oppressed his family he refused during the Kings imprisonment to pretend to the Regency which of right belonged to him and after the King was delivered having retired himself to the quiet of his own domestick affairs sought not to be recalled to any part in that Government in which he knew himself so much suspected The rest of the same House following his example to shew how much they were strangers to the wicked counsels of Bourbon by being such ready Executors though to their own diminution and prejudice of the Kings inclinations voluntarily withdrew themselves from all business that might breed any suspition of them and standing retired little troubled themselves with the charges and commands at Court among which despising the little ones they already perceived it was impossible for them to attain to those dignities which they knew belonged to the greatness of their birth The House of Bourbon thus suppressed and removed from the affairs there sprang up under Francis the First two great families which within a short time got the whole business of the State into their own hands Momorancy and Guise neither of them any way allied to the House Royal but both the one and the other of very eminent Nobility That of Momorancy keeps a venerable record of the eminency of their Ancestors for they do not only shew a right descent from one of those Barons that accompanied the first King Pharamond in the Salique Expedition but prove also they were the first among the French Nation that received Baptism and the Christian Faith
quitted seize upon those already fortified take rich men prisoners lay wait for the lives of their adversaries pillage the goods of the Country people rob upon the high-wayes and with horrible unheard of wickedness and without fear of Justice or Form of Government filled every thing with terror mourning and confusion so that all commerce being broken of it self the Wayes beset the Gentry and Commons armed and even the very Clergy encompassed with Guards and Weapons sometimes under the names of Hugonots and Catholicks sometimes of Royallists and Leaguers sometimes of the Holy Vnion and White Forces sometimes of Navarrists and Lorains they were as with a fatal general frenzy bent upon the destruction of their common Country But the King to whom the news of these Insurrections were brought every hour from all parts was exceeding sollicitous to appease the Deputies and to shew them the necessity he had to free himself of the Lords of the House of Lorain For he thought that they returning into their own Countries with the impression of his reasons might help very much to settle those mindes that were violently stirred up and to restore their Cities unto the wonted obedience and therefore did very carefully cause inquisition to be made concerning the intelligences held by the Lords of Guise both within and without the Kingdom about the pensions which they had received from Spain and particularly that they had consented to the conspiracy of the Duke of Savoy whereby he had possessed himself of the Marquesate of Saluzzo though beyond the Alpes a most important member of the Crown and in this they proceeded by the Writings Letters and Accounts that had been found and the depositions of prisoners Monsieur de Monthelon Garde de Seaux and two Masters of the Requests assisting to form the Process and examine Witnesses But the secret opinions of the States were divers though they all resulted to the same end For those who before held for the King being confirmed and encouraged by what had passed stood more boldly and stoutly for the Royal Authority and that all things might be concluded according to his intentions But those that were for the League and that depended upon the House of Guise being in fear for themselves sought all manner of means to the end that the Congregation of the States breaking up of any fashion they might have leave to depart freely having resolved afterwards to dispose of themselves according to their own inclinations notwithstanding all that should be determined in the Assembly as things extorted violently by fear and force Which though the King perceived by more signs than one and knew clearly that every one making a fair shew endeavoured to withdraw himself and depart yet desiring to justifie his actions he again confirmed the Edict of the Vnion in the States hoping to take away all suspicion from the Legat who did very much press for that Declaration and from his Catholick Subjects of his adhering to the Hugonots or of labouring to procure the King of Navarr's succession whilst he was disobedient to the Roman Catholick Church Afterwards the Edicts being confirmed which had been made for the moderation of Taxes and lessening the number of Offices in all other things he kept on the same way being diligent to shew that he had done all of his own accord and not as having been constrained by the Duke of Guise Finally many Decrees were made about the form of Judicature and other matters touching the ease and relief of the People and in this manner the States concluded the most suspected of them with deep dissimulation striving in emulation of one another to shew themselves the King 's dependents and affectionate to his service Among which were the Count de Brisâ—ao the Sieur de Bois Dauphin Bernard the Advocate and others who assoon as they were gone from Blois joyned again unto the party of the League The King besides the frequent news of so many Insurrections was infinitely troubled at the loss of Orleans for he took great thought about it and had laboured with all possible diligence to keep it as a City that was near unto him seated upon the great road of Paris and very convenient to make the seat of the War And though presently after the death of the Lords of Guise he had sent thither first Monsieur de Dunes Brother to Monsieur d' Entraques and then the Mareschal d' Aumont with some of the Soldiers of his own Guard yet Claude de Lorain Knight of Ierusalem Brother to the Duke of Aumale being come to assist the People with supplies sent by the Parisians the obstinacy of their sollicitousness in assaulting it was so great and so great the want of Ammunition and other things necessary to defend it that in the end of Ianuary the Mareschal d' Aumont marching away with Four hundred men gave way that some few who remained should render it up unto the people and so that City was left totally in the power of the League But above all things the means of appeasing the Pope kept the King in greatest perplexity for though the Legat knowing all things that had passed in France shewed himself from the beginning very favourable to his party and ready to represent what had been done advantageously for him at Rome yet was he not certain what the Pope would think of it being far from the place and perchance having received an ill impression both by the relations of the League and the ill Offices of the Spaniards Wherefore presently after the Cardinal of Guise's death he dispatched most particular informations to Iehan de Vivonne Marquiss of Pisani his Ambassador at Rome that he might have wherewithal to answer those things which might be objected and wherewithal to make good his reasons and having before sent Girolamo Gondi a Florentine to the Pope to intreat him to make the Cardinal of Guise his Legat at Avignon now changing his Commission he gave him order to take Post and make all possible haste to Rome to excuse the death of the same Cardinal unto the Pope and if need were to intercede for his absolution for it But the Pope having received the news of the Duke's death first seemed to make no great reckoning of it and turning to the Cardinal of Ioyeuse who was there present he said See what becomes of such men as commit errors and afterwards know not how to look to themselves But four dayes after the news being arrived of the Cardinals death and the imprisonment of the Cardinal of Bourbon and Archbishop of Lyons being a man of a most fierce precipitate nature he broke forth into so great wrath that thundering on every side he caused the Ambassadors to be called before him to whom with very sharp words he told the news he had received complaining beyond measure of the King That he had had the boldness contrary to the Ecclesiastical Immunities and contrary to the Priviledges of the dignity
of Cardinal and contrary to all laws Divine and Humane to put a Cardinal to death and imprison closely two most principal Prelates at the same time highly threatning the Cardinal-Legat who being present had not withheld the King from so heinous an offence The Marquiss de Pisani and Girolamo Gondi who was then arrived with modest and obsequious but yet constant and grave discourses laid open all the King's reasons the crime of high-Treason which the Cardinal of Guise had incurred and whereof the Cardinal of Bourbon and Arch-bishop of Lyons were likewise guilty their forces and power whereby the King was so far disabled to punish them with the wonted forms in a judiciary way that they a few months before had unworthily driven him out of his own Palace and made him fly unknown from the City of Paris to save his life the state of affairs brought to such extremities by the conspiracies managed by the Brothers of Lorain in the States that unless the King as a Ward would be brought into subjection or deprived of his Crown he was necessitated to cause them to be punished though without form of judgment yet not without most apparent reason their crimes being most heinous and manifest which he as King and Head of Justice had power to judge and punish in any manner whatsoever That if nothing else the very contempt they had shown of Religion in making use of so many solemn Oaths and Sacraments of the holy Church as means to deceive him had made them unworthy of the protection of his Holiness who might easily inform and certifie himself by many proofs that it was not to protect and defend the Catholick Faith which no man could hold in greater veneration than the King but for their own ambition and to usurp the Kingdom from the lawful Heirs they had so often with the loss of so many mens lives disturbed and distracted the whole Kingdom Finally they added that the King was an obedient Son of the Church desirous to satisfie the Pope in all things possible and that therefore he had sent Girolamo Gondi to intreat and beseech his Holiness to grant him his blessing in token that he was appeased and pacified The Pope neither perswaded nor appeased replyed that Girolamo Gondi had been dispatched about another business and that he knew it very well that the King was so far from submitting to his obedience and suing for absolution that persevering yet in his sin he still kept prisoners the two chief Prelates in all France who were immediately under the Apostolick See and that if the Cardinal of Guise and the rest had offended so much as the Ambassadors reported the King might have demanded Justice from him to whom it belonged to judge them and that he should have known very well how to administer it And because the Ambassadors answered that they were Ambassadors and publick persons and therefore ought to be believed in whatsoever they represented touching the King's desire and the Blessing which they demanded in his name The Pope replyed that they were Ambassadors to treat of matters that concerned the affairs of the Kingdom of France but that Contrition and Confession in Foro Conscientiae were to go before absolution and that therefore it was needful to send an especial Embassie and a person expresly for that purpose that in token of his Repentance he ought first to set at liberty the Prelates that were in Prison that the King and the Ambassadors sought to deceive him but they should be assured they had not to do with a young Novice but one who even with the shedding of his blood was ready to uphold the dignity of the Holy-Chair and having with sharp words and sharper looks dismissed them he caused the Consistory to be called the next morning in which with a vehement Oration and full of resentment he accused the King in presence of the Cardinals reprehended those who excused and defended him and threatned severely to punish Cardinal Moresini who forgetting the person he represented had without any sense of the affront suffered the Liberty and Dignity of the Holy-Church to be trampled under foot then electing a certain number of Cardinals who were to consult about those matters that appertained to the Kingdom of France the chief whereof were the Cardinals Serbeloni Fachineâ—to Lancellotto Castagna and Sancta Severina he set the business in a high reputation and filled the whole World with exceeding great expectation In the mean time the affairs of the League gathered strength and took form in France for the Duke of Mayenne being departed secretly from Lyons the same night that he heard the news of his Brother's death doubting as it was true that the King had taken order and would send to lay hold on him came much perplexed and uncertain of his condition into the Province of Bourgongne which was governed by him and retired to Mascon from whence he began practices with the other Towns of that Province and particularly with the City and Castle of Dijon commanded by the Baron de Lux Nephew to the Arch-bishop of Lyons and having found the City Parliament and Governour of the Castle ready to receive him and to run his fortune recovering courage he went thither from whence he presently sent unto the Pope the Commendatory Francois Diu Knight of Ierusalem a man vers'd in the Court of Rome and one of the chief ancient abettors of the League to the end that he might complain about the death of his Brothers before the Holy-Chair and beseech the Pope that he would take into his protection the relicks of the Catholick party extreamly trodden down and afflicted While the Duke stayed there not well resolved in his thoughts Letters came from Madam de Montpensier his Sister which gave him notice of the revolt of the Parisians and of all the adjacent Towns and exhorted him to take heart and putting himself into the place of his Brothers to become head of the Vnion with assured hopes not onely to revenge their death but happily to prosecute the contrived and begun design of the League This exhortation and these letters added to the news of the revolt of Orleans and Chartres confirmed the Duke's courage in such manner that the Kings letters written very kindly to him which came to his hands a while after had not power enough to make him yield to peace which at first perhaps he would have greedily embrac'd The King writ that he had been constrained by necessity to forget his own nature to free himself of those conspiracies which the Duke and Cardinal his Brothers had plotted against him and in a manner brought to a conclusion that nevertheless he had not been so severe as any other would have been satisfying himself with taking away the principal Heads and leaving all the rest alive who he hoped might acknowledge and amend their former errors that he had not been moved by any hatred or passion for he had alwayes loved