Ecclesiasticall persons if they well consider the weightinesse of the matter will looke better vnto their office and duetie than they haue done heretofore Let vs knowe that the dissolution of our Church was the first beginning of heresies but it is to bée thought that a Reformation will take them away againe This victorie must not be sought for by violence or by force of armes but by godlye exhortations and by godlynesse of lyfe Wyth these weapons the Heretikes in tymes past were ouercome We must not hate the menne but the vyces and wickednesses that are in men and wée must goe aboute all that wée maye to bring them into the waye that are in errour Let vs therefore put awaye all factious and seditious names as the names of Lutheranes Huguenotes Papystes and suche lyke and let vs retayne and kéepe still the names of Christians But bicause there are manye founde whyche wyll not bee satisfyed desiring tumult and confusion enimies to peace and the cōmon welth and as it appeareth contemners of God and Religion the King which otherwise of himselfe is gentle and long suffering hitherto hath vene constrayned and peraduenture shall be hereafter vrged to indeuour himselfe to punishe the frowarde obstinate It may seeme a very sharp remedy but if we looke well vpon the disease and mischiefe yet a growing we shall find it very necessary for the same Notwithstanding it is so come to passe as yet by the goodnesse of God and the clemencie of the Prince that there hath bene no greater punishment layde vpon any man nor no greater destruction followed as the subuersion of Cities the burning of houses the disfraunchizing of Cities of their priuiledges and the restraint of their liberties the which other Princes that dwell about vs haue oftentimes vsed euen within the compasse of our remembrance for the punishing of seditious persons And bicause it is to be feared least the armies of souldiers being dismist the seditious will begin to practise and conspire a freshe of two things the one is to be done namely that either the armies be kept and maintained still which cannot be done without the great cost and charge of the Subiectes or else that the Citizens of euery Citie endeuour themselues to punishe such seditious and seditious persons and he that shall be first founde to go about to alter the state of the common welth let him by his seuere punishment be an example to all the rest The King to this ende and purpose will giue you a power of armed men Consider with your selues which of these wayes is most for your profite either that you maintaine garrisons of souldiers to kéepe the cities for the king or that you your selues in your owne persons do it at your owne costes and charges As for all other things the King will prouide and sée vnto them by his officers In the meane time let such as are Ecclesiastical persons doe their dutie by prayers by Sermons and by diligent instructing of the people And so it will come to passe that the King shall be obeyed and you shall enioye peace tranquilitie Whē the Chaūcelor had procéeded thus far forth and had spokē somewhat concerning the Kings substaunce and great erpences exhorting the Court of Parliament to ease the same he declared that it was the King and the Quéenes pleasures that euery man shoulde fréely put forth his complaintes and sutes for that their Maiesties intended with all clemencie as it was meete to prouide for all thinges And this only was done the first day In the next méeting the assemblye of States chose out thrée men to speake for them the which thrée stoode before the King and made their seuerall orations The sum wherof I will briefely repeate so far forth as they shall séeme necessary for our purpose The speaker for the thirde order of States that is to say for the Commonalty was named Angell a Counseller and a pleader of causes in the Senate of Burdeux in Gascoyne This man declared by many reasons that for the due putting away of perturbations and troubles it séemed good and most necessary to the people first of all to remoue and to take away the causes Which causes he saide were partlye the corruptions among Ecclesiasticall persons among which corruptions which were very many in number there were thrée notable and more pernicious than the rest namely Couetousnesse Ignorance and Luxurie Ignorance he sayd was so manifest that no man néede to doubte of the same and so great also that among that sorte of men it was to be séene from the hyest to the lowest Which ignorance is the mother and Nurse of all errours as both experience and also the testimonies of learned fathers aboundantlye declare To remedie this he saide Canons and decrées woulde be prouided but in vaine For so great is the contempte and negligence of preaching and instructing the people which is notwithstanding the office of a good pastour that Bishops at this day counte it a shame and reproch vnto them to féede the flocke of Christ. And such as are Curates and other masse priests following the euill example of Bishoppes doe also euen abhorre their office and doe commit the same to vnlearned vicars who singing Masses for their rewarde haue onely some one slender bosome collation or other which they alwayes vse without discretion as one plaister to all maner of soares The seconde vice is Couetousnesse the whiche as it is no lesse pestiferous than Ignorance so is it no lesse to be séene as well in the heades as in the inferiors And as for Luxurie the pompe and pryde of Prelates he fayde it was suche that it was a great stumbling blocke and offence to all men For they are painted and set for the as though by an outwarde shewe in the world they should represent the maiestie of God when as they shoulde rather expresse the same by godlynesse and integritie of life How greatly haue our Bishoppes of late dayes degenerated from the meane estate puritie and godlynesse of the true Byshoppes of olde time All these corruptions saith he must be taken away by a godly and lawfull Counsel called and also by the kings authoritie The speaker for the Nobilitie was one Iacobus Sillius This man began first to speake many things concerning the power authoritie and office of Kings and largely also concerning the order of Nobles which he saide was verye profitable and necessary to preserue and maintaine the dignitie of the king In speaking of matters concerning Religion he founde this fault aboue all others namely that hytherto there had béene great ouersight in suffering Ecclesiasticall persons to haue so great power and authoritie and so large lyuing and reuenewes who haue incroched vnto them selues the houses of Noble men do wickedly abuse all that euer they haue Wherfore saith he it is necessarye that these sortes of men shuld he reformed Also he wished that it might be diligently
Emperour woulde haue the actes of the Councell handled before him to be openlye publyshed abroade But concerning the paines and punishments which were hitherto appointed this he sayde was his opinion â–ª and iudgement That doctrine for the which all this trouble ariseth is of diuers men diuersly receyued Some so soone as they hearde of the same perfecte and approued doctrine and had in no poynt imbraced receyued the same thought it sufficient to knowe this one thing namely that no man ought to heare Masse and that it was lawfull to eate fleshe in Lent that men were not bounde to Auricular confession and that it was lawfull to speake euill of Priestes These men vndiscretely went about to defend that doctrine by force of armes but to be short these men vnder the pretence of Religion were mere seditious and are by no meanes to be excused For if these kinde of men were Christians or by any maner of meanes true receyuers of the Gospell they ought to remember that the Apostle commaunded to praye for Kings and to render all obedience vnto them yea though they were cruell and wicked also they ought to call to minde that neuer in the Church specially in the time of the twelue great persecutions in the which an infinite number of Christians were put to death there was any one man founde which went about to defend his cause by force of armes but rather ouercame the crueltie of their Emperours with their pacience Another sort of men there are also which imbrace this doctrine and retain the same with such zeale loue and obedience towardes God and the King that they woulde in nothing offende them By the life and death of these men it is manifest that they haue a desire to attayne saluation and to finde the way that leadeth to the same and when they haue founde that way they neither feare losse of lyfe and goods nor any maner of punishment but to the vtmost of their power prosecute that way Wherfore they are not to be counted among the number of those wicked professors before spoken off nor to be numbred in the companie of seditious persons As yet we see it playne inough that those punishmentes which haue bene deuised haue done no good but on the contrarie part their patience which they manifestly shewed in the middest of the fierie flames hath stirred vp many to haue a liking and to fauour their cause Herevpon it came to passe that they which neuer hearde of the same doctrine for the which they suffer were desirous to vnderstande what doctrine it was and at the length hauing intelligence of the same they did receiue it with no lesse affection zeale than others had done being ready by the ensample of others to suffer death for it Therfore set before your eyes and consider the examples of the thrée hundred and eightene Bishoppes in the first Councell of Nice of the. 150. in the Councell of Constantinople of the 200. in the Councell of Ephesus and of the 630. in the Councell of Chalcedon who neuer vsed any other armour than the worde of God against the Arrians Macedonians Nestorians and other heretikes conuicted of blasphemie against the holy Trinitie Constantinus Valentinian Theodosius Martian being Christian and godly Emperours did vse no greater punishment against the authors of sects than banishment And as touching assemblies and multitudes gathered togither they were always forbidden for the dauÌ„ger that séemed therof to arise the king also hath sufficiently prouided for this thing by his Edicts And thus this Bishop made an end of his oratioÌ„ adding this one thing by the Kings leaue that it was mete in punishing to haue a prudent consideration of the place of the time of the wils of men of the coÌ„paniâ—… called togither After this man Carolus Marillacus Bishop of Vienna in Dolpheny vttered his opinion in maner and forme folowing Although that matter which is propounded vnto vs to deliberate vpon is very hard long bicause it is left at large and is general therfore the more vneasie to be concluded séeing we must come froÌ„ that which is generall to particularities in discussing wherof the diuersitie of Iudges will bring as it is likely great varietie of opinioÌ„s yet notwithstanding we must hold this as a sure certaine rule in the discussing of all matters namely that after long consultation debating of things some certaintie at the length must be concluded that there cannot be a more pestilent mischiefe mortal plague in the gouernment of common weales than to wander among the diuersitie of opinions to appoint and retaine no certaine thing And if this rule so greatly commended of wise men so prudently obserued of Kings of common weales of Princes which euer at any time florished ought to stirre vs vp to follow the same way and rule truly the necessitie the extremitie in the which we are hath brought vs into such a strayt that we cannot do otherwise though we would â–ª And as all men of sound iudgement wil confesse y matter cannot abide in that state in the which it is now any loÌ„ger But lest I be tedious vnto you â–ª I will come to the matter The tumults which of late haue hapned the feare of newe things the complaintes and displeasure of many men and the feare also and dreade that is among men ought to stirre vs vp to séeke and prouide for remedies in time which may defende vs from these great troubles which else wil make a great alteration of y state And that I may briefly conclude this matter I thinke that there are two things as it were two pillers by which the state of the kingdome may be fortified and borne vp namely the integritie of Religion and the good will of the people The which if they were stable and firme we néede not doubt the safetie of things but if they be once cast downe as it is to be scared there must néedes followe great ruine and destruction of that hie and notable building These two things therfore must be stablished and confirmed to prelient that ruine which is like to come and to this ende as both common profite and necessitie requireth all our Councels reasons deuises and deliberations ought to tende séeing herevpon both the due obedience to the King and the conseruation of the people dependeth The which things are so ioyned togither that the one of them by anye meanes cannot stande without the other As concerning necessitie we must measure and wey the same by hauing a respect and consideration of the King and of his principall members or ministers which vnder him gouerne the people and of others also who ought to obey First of all therfore it is the Kings duty to wey coÌ„sider whervnto he is called wherfore the Lord hath giuen vnto him the rule of so great a people In so doing he shal find that the Lord hath chosen
threatnings did nothing at all therein when it came to the pinch Neither would Pope Paule the fourth his successor wheÌ„ he was yet but Cardinal establish that which he thought to be mete necessary I omit that which Bernard other learned fathers haue said only this I say except we aply our minds put our haÌ„ds to the tearing vp of this roote of al euil Jesus Christ will descend from heauen with a whip in his hand to expel vs as buiers sellers out of the temple The third remedie shal be to confesse our faults the which in dede is the first step to helth to make the same manifest by publike generall fastings the which maner was alwayes obserued in the olde Church whensoeuer any great perill or daunger was like to come vpon the Church as plague famine or warre the which thrée euils in these our dayes inuade the realme togither For what greater plague can there be thaÌ„ that which slayeth mens soules What greater famine can therebe than the famine of Gods word Or what warre caÌ„ be more mortall or cruell than the corruption of pure doctrine By which we being drawn froÌ„ God are depriued of the eternal kingdom which Christ by his bloud hath purchased for vs Let vs therfore turn vs vnto those old accustomed remedies as to Câ—…mmon praier to fasting and to wéeping and first of all we must take into our handes the sworde of God that is to say his word the scahard wherof we scarsly retaine neither must we thinke that Myters Croziers Cappes Garments and other ornaments the which in old time were outwardly worne to shewe that which was inwarde that is to say that godly doctrine ought to be ioyned with a godly life can deliuer vs froÌ„ the coÌ„tempt of the people seeing that which is eternall is wanting there onely remaineth an outward shew feined sight Let vs set before our eies this horrible sentence which John the Baptist pronounced against the Jewes saying Nowe is the axe put to the roote of the trees euery tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruite is â—…ew â—…e downe and cast into the fire The fourth remedie shall be while the Councel is a preparing gathering togither to stay seditious persons so to restraine theÌ„ that they break not by any meanes the coÌ„mon peace tranquilitie let this be kept as a law ratified and inuiolable that it is not lawful for any subiect vpoÌ„ any occasioÌ„ or for any cause to take armes to lift vp the sword without the coÌ„mandement or leaue of the Prince the only moderator gouernor of warres This I speak for the sorowful exaÌ„ples sake which hapned are like to happeÌ„ except we take heds Of the one part we saw the tumult of Ambaxia on y other part there were certain Preachers which stirred vp the people to tumult violently to set theÌ„selues to destroy banish those protestaÌ„ts vnder a pretence of godly seditioÌ„ as though that Religion coulde or ought to be established by sedition And thus there was greate offence committed on both parts insomuch that many were slaine which were thought to be Protestants Moreouer those protestants did greatly offend enterprising many things rashly to put away these iniuries offred vnto theÌ„ taking armes therby violating the law of the magistrate which beloÌ„geth to no priuate persoÌ„ For the end of the law is to liue according vnto Gods wil to hurt no man and to obey the lawe of Armes Therfore the king is the maintainer of Gods law and the moderator of wars the which he may and ought to vse to the authoritie of the lawe and to the punishing of rebelles and traitours To be shorte he counteth him selfe a king who although he be not ordained of God yet of his owne will and authoritie moueth warre And truely herevpon it followeth that he ought to be counted of all men as an enimy and to be punished as a breaker of Gods ordinance and publique power For this cause I thinke it good that commaundement be giuen to inferior Magistrates that they diligently attend vpon their charge and offices least some newe thing happen by their carelesse negligence Hereby therefore it euidently appéereth that the first bonde to preserue the kings estate is so to establishe Religion that no man may abuse y same at his owne pleasure against the authoritie of the law and the ende thereof which is that both God and the king maye be obeyed But now to come to the seconde principall point as concerning the ordering and kéeping of the people in due obedience we thinke this to be the waye namely to heare the complaintes of the subiectes and to vse conuenient remedies for the same Notwithstanding there is great differeÌ„ce betwéene priuate open complaintes for if the complaints be made of priuate persons to priuate persons the diligence of the Judges which are appointed to ordinary gouernemeÌ„t is a spéedie way to remedie and helpe them But when there are generall complaints or when eyther the confirmation or alteration of things commeth in question we must straight way haue recourse to those auncient constitutions and orders by whiche the safetie of the kingdome standeth the which are nothing else than those thrée orders which we call the states That is to saye that those things being made manifest and opened which maye bring any confusioÌ„ and the remedies which were prouided to put away the same being diligently sought for the king for the loues sake that he beareth to his people maye determine and appoint that which is iustly required to the honor of God and the coÌ„mon profyte of all men Of the which thing the good will of the people wholy dependeth that hauing done that duetie which he oweth vnto God he may in lyke maner satisfie the mindes and willes of his subiectes And so he shall not onely kéepe the name of a king the gifts of nature appertaining to a kingly name but also may rule and gouerne by peace seing that gentlenesse may allure them of their owne good wils to do more than force or violence can extorte from them And to the ende it may euidentlye appéere that the complaintes are such that they ought to be heard and examined of the assembly of the States I will shewe vnto you a generall reason namely this The extraordinarie taxes tallages tributes haue so increased that now the subiectes not onely are not able to beare this great burthen but also not able to satisfie discharge those old duties which were before time accustomed to be payde Is not this a complaint to be considered talked of in the assembly of States Seing the greatest part of the people complaineth of the same and are by no maner of meanes any thing disburthened but specially seing that to heare the afflicted oppressed is the beginning of consolation to declare a readinesse and good will to ease theÌ„ is
Monsieur Vidame of Carnutum who was kept at Paris in holde for those causes whereof we haue spoken before Whose death many of the Nobles tooke very heinously Then were certaine thinges appointed and determined concerning the gouernment of the kingdome the imperie and rule was deuided betwéene the Quéene and the King of Nauarre and that in such order that the chiefest authoritie to gouerne the Realme was giuen to the Quéene against all law and auncient custome of France Wherfore by reason of this sodaine chaunge the assemblye of States were interrupted and brake vp for a certaine space But they were assembled togither againe in the same place the. xiii daye of December Charles the King the Quéene and the Princes according to the maner accompanying them Then the Chancelour at the commaundement of the King declared that there was no lesse willingnesse in the King than there was in his brother before him to haue an assemblie of States and that the rather bicause the King himselfe was newlye come vnto the Kingdome And he procéeded speaking very seriously and plentifully of the cause ende and vse of calling an assemblie of States and why the same being omitted for the space of eight and twentie yeres shoulde nowe againe be brought in vse And when he had shewed the King and the Subiectes also their duties he came to speake of those causes more particularly which brought to passe that there should be an assembly of States that is to say of the Seditions which he wished might be taken quite away for that they were like to bring so great troubles to the whole Realme And to finde out spéedye and profitable Remedies for the same he sayde the causes of so great euill must first of all bée noted and knowne We must sayth he in euery respect and condicion disalowe and vtterlye condemne sedition the which is nothing else but a separation and a pulling awaye of the subiectes from the Kingdome and Common wealth And it springeth of diuers causes First of feare of some imminent euill which may come by iniurie and oppression and also of the expectation of great things to put awaye penurie and scarcenesse But the speciall cause is Religion And this is very straunge and most wonderfull bicause God the only true author and preseruer of Religion as he is an enimy to dissention so is he the defēder and preseruer of peace Christian Religion néedeth not the defence of Armes neither doth the beginning or conseruation therof stand vpon force of armes Neither is their aunswere to be allowed which say That they take not armes and force in hande to offend any man but to defende themselues For by no meanes is it lawfull for the subiect to ryse against the Prince yea it is no lesse vnlawfull for him so to doe than for the children to resist their parents whether they be good and courteous or sharpe and cruell Thus did the godly Christians in tyme past set forth and maintaine Christian Religion namely by long sufferance and pacience also by deuout prayer for wicked Emperors which ouercame their crueltie The very Ethnikes truly praysed highly cōmended those which had suffered iniuries and reproches for their countrie But we which are Christians ought not to allowe the opinions of the Gréekes and Romaynes concerning the killyng of tyrantes If men were such as they ought to be there should neuer come any strife or contention for Religion But it is manifest that there is no greater force than the first conceyued opinion of Religion whether y same be good or euill There is no peace to be hoped for betwéene men of contrarie Religion There is nothing that doth more violently assaile the hearts of men and that doth more inuade them there is no affection that is of greater power and more violent either to bring friendship or to bring hatred than Religion The Jewes hated all other Nations as prophane And all other Nations hated the Jewes But wherefore for Religion What and howe great hatred was there in time past between the fathers and the Arrians But I omit such ancient examples and I will come nearer euen to our selues England and France embracing al one Religion shall be more surely linked and knit in frendship and loue one towardes another thā they which disagréeing in Religion are of one Countrie kinred and name Diuersitie of Religion dissolueth all the bondes of loue it setteth the father against the children and the children against the father brother against brother the man against the wife and the wife against hir husbande according to this place of Scripture I came not to sende peace ▪ but a sworde Herevpon it commeth to passe that in all Realmes there are oftentimes grieuous seditions For if it come to passe that there be variāce disagréement betwéene those that are by nature so fast linked togither by the meanes of Religion what maye we thinke of others Not the diuersitie of tongues but the diuersitie of Religion maketh diuision of Kingdomes and of Common weales Herevpon commeth that olde Prouerbe Vna Fides vna Lex vnus Rex that is to say One fayth one Lawe and one king Among these diuisions and discordes howe can it be that violence and force of armes shoulde not be vsed For warre followeth alwayes discorde and dissention according to these verses Discordia that Ladie of stryfe and of wo hath with hir Bellona hir handmaide also VVho alwayes doth carie a most bloudy scurdge the vndoubted reuenge of strife and of grudge Therefore the principall and chiefe cause of this disease and mischiefe is the discrepance and varietie of Religion To cure the which mischiefe there is not a more present remedie than to haue a Councell as it was lately concluded at Fontubellaquaeum and we haue nowe great hope to obtaine the same at the hands of the Pope In the meane time let vs shewe our due obedience vnto the yong king Let vs not for Gods sake receyue newe opinions according to our owne fantasie Let vs in time with wisedome consider of the matter and let vs diligently seeke to vnderstande the same It is no trifle that we haue in hande but it is the saluation of our soules that is in question If it maye be lawfull for euery man at his owne discretion to receyue what Religion him lysteth take héede that there bée not so many Religions as there be men Thou sayest that thy Religion is better than mine and I defende that which I embrace whether is it more meete that I followe thy opinion or thou mine Who shall ende our controuersies but the holy Councell In the meane time let vs not alter any thing rashlye least by seditions we bring warre into our Kingdome and so there followe a confusion The King and the Queene will leaue nothing vndone that may procure a Councell and if this remedie maye not be had they will séeke other remedies And nowe our Prelates and
foreséen that the office of an Ecclesiasticall person might not be committed to an vnlearned vnapte and ignoraunt person affirming it to be vnlawfull for them to dwell from their flockes in other places at their owne pleasure and so giuing them selues to worldly businesse wholy to neglecte their offices but sayth he it is the Kings duetie to cal them to their office againe And in the ende he made earnest peticion that there might be wayes taken in time to stop the seditions at hande and also that it wold please the king to haue regard consideration to his nobles as his auncetours had done before him When he had thus spoken he put vp a Supplication in the which peticion was made in the name of the nobilitie that temples might be graunted for the vse and seruice of the reformed Religion After this man one Quintinus Heduus who was chosen to be the speaker for the Clergie when he had commended the king and Quéene to their face saying that the kings of Fraunce were specially chosen euē as if they had béen borne and appointed to be defenders of the Churche of Rome and that therefore they had that moste auncient name from all ages as to be called Most Christian Princes he sayde that this assembly of States or court of Parliament was verye well called The causes of the which assemblye saith he is that the complayntes of the people mighte be hearde and holpen and that meanes and remedyes might be prepared for the scarsitie of the kings treasure and substāce But this saith he is the greatest cause of all whiche I speake with great sorrowe and griefe and yet notwithstanding muste néedes speake the same namely that the corruptions and notable faultes of Ecclesiasticall persons myghte bée refourmed and amended For sayth he the matter is nowe come to thys passe that they thē selues which shuld declare this Ecclesiasticall holynesse by their life are more afrayde of the kings Edictes than they are of Gods word and of the Gospell of christ Notwithstanding we muste therefore thinke saith he that the reformatiō of the Church is sought for which hath not erred neither can erre but a correction only of those most greuous faults in those men which were the chiefe gouerners of the Church which correction must procéede from the king but so notwithstanding the king must vse correctiē that he follow the steppes of those kings that haue gone before him who alwayes fauored the Church Adding to this also that those kings his auncetours woulde neuer haue suffered the wicked practises of these newe fellowes which falsely and wickedly of late time take vnto them selues the profession of the Gospell that they mighte therby both refuse all ecclesiastical order and also abolishe if they might al Ciuill power and authoritie For saith he the king ought to this ende specially to exercise his authoritie and draw his swerde to punishe and vtterly to roote out all heretikes giltie of criminall punishments Therefore he desired that Churches might not be graunted to those horrible men for so he termed them and that they also might be counted punished as heretikes which durst offer the supplications of Heretikes to the king This truely saith he hath bene the olde subtill practise of Sathan to bring this libertie to heretikes that they might the more securely and without feare of punishment destroy the Gospell the which subtill practises he hath nowe also in hande and therefore the more diligent héede saith he ought to be taken In like maner also he desired the king that according to the doyngs of his Auucetours and also according to the example of Charles the great whose name he bare he wold constraine all his subiectes to liue according to the Canons rules of the fathers For detestable sayth he is the boldnesse of these new heretikes which scoffing at the authoritie of the fathers and reiecting the doctrines and Canons of the Churche saye that they will haue nothing but the true Gospell onely as thoughe the promise of Christ were vaine and to no effect who promised that he would neuer forsake his Churche and as thoughe that they were wiser than so many Fathers which left so many godly Canons behynde them in writing also as though they alone vnderstoode the word of god Horrible boldnesse reebllion is that sayth he which casteth of the yoake of the Church and what else will they do at the last but murmur and grudge also against the power and authoritie of the Ciuill Magistrate Moreouer he said that the notes badges of the Church were not obscure which these new men wanted as the euerlasting and continuall successiō from the Apostles time and the Canons and rules which the Fathers left behinde them which badges the Church of Rome hath Therefore saith he that they may neuer hereafter abuse the name of the Churche we must plainely pronounce and affirme That the Church of Rome is the Catholique or vniuersall Church But if these newe men take vnto them the name of the Church we will not denie it them but we saye that they are not of the True Catholique Church but of the Malignant Church Also he made petition that they which had fled the Realme for Religions sake might be banished men for euer that they might loose all maner of priuilege and that they mighte be handled euen as if they were forraine enimyes Furthermore he saide that aboue all things that drowning floud which had flowed out of the diches of Geneua was most pernicious and therfore he exhorted the king that he would to the vtmost of his power roote out all such as came from that place and not to holde the yong childe excused if so be he came from thence seyng that God would call him to an accounte for the doing of his duetie And perswaded Queene Katherine also the kings mother by the example of that Katherine of whome Eusebius maketh mention to ouerthrow and roote out these newe Heretikes Therefore he sayde that this was the onely cause of the great mischief at hande that there were so many heretikes in euery place to the destruction of the Realme and all estates Moreouer he desired of the King that Ecclesiasticall persons might be defended and maintayned accordyng to the commaundement of God bycause they are The Lordes Christes or annointed as their badges that is to say their shauē crownes doe declare Also he complayned that the authoritie to chose Prelates was taken from the Clergy and giuen to Kings saying that it was done against Gods word against the holye Canons and againste the approued examples of the Elders and that euer since that tyme namely from the yeare of oure Lorde god M. D. XUII. when the same was first vsurped all things haue had euyll successe For saith he in that very yeare in the which that lawfull right was abrogated from Ecclesiasticall persons began that damnable heresie of Luther whiche afterwarde soke suche rooting
kepte sylence the King spake in maner and fourme following All men sayth he know well enoughe what and how great perturbations and troubles are in the Realme for the which cause I haue appoynted you to come together at this time that those things which ye knowe haue néede of reformation maye quietly of you be declared without any maner of affection hauing no consideration or care for any thing but for the glorye of God and the peace and quietnesse of consciences The whyche thing I greatlye desire in so much that I haue determined not to suffer you to departe hence before you haue made some ende of all controuersies that at the length all dissentions being taken away mutual peace and concord may be had among all men This thing if ye bring to passe ye shall giue me occasion to maintayne and defende you with no lesse care than those kings my auncestours that haue béene before me haue done Then he commaunded his Chauncelor to declare his minde more at large The Chauncelor therefore began to shew that the kings will was according to the wils of his predecessors that had béene before him in staying the controuersies of Religion the which when those Kings of happie memorie went diligently aboute to bring to passe they had in their labors very small successe in so much that daylie more and more new troubles arose wherfore he would that all men should the more diligently wisely to apply theÌ„ selues to pacifie in time these troubles for the which cause he had caused them to come togither and minded in his royall person to accompany them that disordered matters in Religion which concerned both doctrine and maners might be reformed he vnderstanding that this was the onelye cause of all troubles woulde diligentlye prouide for them as his office required The remedie which nowe he intendeth to vse séemeth to be a present remedie as it was of late deliberated and considered of in the most noble assembly of the Princes CouÌ„cel namely that by this peculiar and particular conference the matters of Religion in controuersie betwéene both parties might be quietly reasoned and disputed of â–ª But to loke or séeke for remedie by a general Councel it is euen as vaine as if a man hauing good and sufficient remedie at home shoulde notwithstanding trauaile to the Indyes to séeke the same For sayth he we our selues shall better prouide remedyes for oure selues than men of strange and forraine countreys can doe which know neither the state of our cause nor the condition of our people of which kinde of strangers notwithstanding the generall Councell shall consiste Greater fruites and profite haue often times come by Nationall Councels than haue come by generall Councels As may appeare by that generall Councell of Ariminum the which Councell openly fauouring and maintaining the secte of the Arrians was reproued and corrected by particular Synodes Also in this our realme of Fraunce Hilary Bishop of Pictauia by his industrye and faithfull dealing in Synodes banished the heresie of the Arrians out of these partes Therfore sayth he there is no doubte but that there shall aryse great profite and commoditie by this assembly specially seing it pleaseth the king to take such paines himselfe who no doubt wil helpe both with his power authoritie Wherfore he wished the disputers on both partes onely to be carefull to doe their duetie both of them ioyntly to seke concorde the greater part not to despise the lesser not to vse curious disputations without profit and to iudge examine al matters by the word of God only which being wel vnderstoode fewe other authours shall serue also that they which say they followe the newe doctrine woulde not counte the prelates of the contrarye parte for their enimyes séeyng by Baptisme they retaine the name of Christians For the king sayth he hath therefore giuen you leaue to come together that men mighte sée what reasons you haue and that the Prelates on the Popes side might séeke by strong arguments to confute theÌ„ that the disputation at the length beyng published abrode all men may euidently sée that they are condemned for iust causes and not by the vaine authoritie of men Therefore take héede in any case that you do nothing ambitiously know ye that ye are not iudges and indeuour yourselues to finde out and manifest the truth So shall you both glorifye God and also profite your countrey and God himselfe shall blisse your indeuours and the moste constant minde of the king in this matter The matter being thus propounded by the Chauncelor the Cardinall of Turnon in the name of the Prelates gaue great thankes to the king to the Quéene and to the Princes that it pleased them to come to this holy assemblye and for that the Châ—…uncelor by the kings commaundement had put forth these matters the which he desired to haue giuen vnto him in writing that they mighte deliberate and consider what was néedefull to be done in these things Then the Chauncelour saide that he woulde not giue the matter in writing seing it was plainely enough declared And thus they coulde get nothing at the handes of the Chauncelor althoughe the Cardinall of Loraine required the same Then the ministers which sat oueragainst them hauing leaue to speake Theodore Beza began thus Seing that all things O king both great small specially those things which belong to the worship of God and which doe far surmounte oure capacitie doe depende vpon the same God we thinke it not troublesome to your maiestie if we begin with prayer vnto god When he had spoken these wordes he falling on his knées with the rest of his fellowes beganne to pray vnto God in that forme of confession of sinnes which is vsed in the refourmed Churches pronouncing the same with a loude voyce and that done straight way he added vnto the same these wordes For so much as O God thou hast bene so fauourable this daye to thy vnworthye seruauntes as to graunt them leaue to professe the knowledge of thy truth before their King and this most honorable assembly we moste humbly beseeche thee O father of lightes that it may please thee according to thy accustomed goodnesse so to illuminate our mindes to gouerne our affections and to make them apt to be taughte so also to direct oure wordes that whatsoeuer knowledge of thy truth thou shalt giue vnto vs according to our capacitie we may both with hearte and mouthe vtter the same to the glorye of thy name to the profit and prosperitie of our King and of all his subiects and specially to the peace and tranquillitie of this Christian common wealth realme WheÌ„ Beza had thus ended his prayer turning his speach to the king he vttered these wordes in manner and forme following They which doe faithfully serue and obey their Princes most noble King doe thinke themselues moste happie in this thing aboue al other if so
Conde séeing that this motion for diuers circumstances is subiecte to diuers mennes Iudgements and because the knowledge hereof appertaineth to all men would to put away all occasions of slaunders shewe to all men manifest reasons whych haue constrained him to ioyne with a great number of his fréends and retainers to serue the King Quéene and to procure the peace and tranquillity of the whole Realme All men know that after the diuers perturbations and troubles for Religions sake when as greater also wer lyke to ensue to stay appease them at the last in the moneth of Ianuary laste past there was made an Edicte by the Kings commaundement to quiet and pacifie bothe partes wyth the aduice and consent also of the most Noble of the high Court of Parliament The Proclamation of thys Edicte whych at the first was much hindered caused suspicions to arise that these things were done not wythout a confederacie which teâ—…ded to a farther matter The which suspitions wer increased the more by the méetings of the constable and the Magistrates of Paris by the coÌ„moning of the senators also by the often assemblies of the chéefe Marchantes notwithstanding all the whych the Prince of Conde or any of the reformed Churches neuer did or spake any thing which might interrupt or breake the publike peace any manner of meanes Yea euen in the midst of those vexations and troubles they loked quietly and modestly for the Proclamation of the same Edicte in the Senate of Paris Thys proclamation being at the lengthe made at Paris and being extorted by the Supplications of the King and Quéene rather than by commaundements the Prince of Conde after his gréeuous sicknes when he had saluted the King and Quéene gotte hym home to hys house to recreate him selfe Amidst these troubles there came newes concerning the cruell and horrible slaughter at Vassi done in the presence of the Duke of Guise and by hym many of the Kings Subiects both men and women being slain which according to their manner by the benefite of the Kings Edict came together to heare the worde of God. This horrible Acte being reported at Paris greatly moued the mindes of all men of bothe partes insomuch that much mischéefe was like to followe And among other Rumors it was reported that the Duke of Guise was comming with a great armye of men to the intent he might vtterly destroy the churches of the reformed Religion Whervpon the meÌ„ of those Churches came out of diuers places to the Court and required of the King and Quéene punishment of so greate and notable wickednesse committed Thys was the cause why the Prince of Conde going homeward stayed at Paris went from thence to Monceaulx at the commaundement of the King Quéene to whom he said he feared the commotions troubles like to ensue to stay the which he sayd he thought this the only remedy namely that the Duke of Guise which was said to be coÌ„ming to Paris with a great army of men might not be suffered to enter therein the which aduise séemed to please the Quéene and the king of Naâ—…rre very well And according to this aduise the Quéene wrote her letters to the Duke of Guise intreating him that he would come to the king and to her to Monceaulx The which thing being twise required by the Quéene was also twise denied of the Guise the first tyme hée made excuse that hée was busied in entertayning his friendes which were come to sée him and the second time by silence making no aunswer at all â–ª But hée came to Paris with a great nomber of armed men hauing also with him the Constable the Martiall of S. Andrew and diuers others of his counsell And hée was receyued into the citie by the citizens with great pompe the Marchantmaister being their Captayne and the people crying as hée entered into S. Anthonies gate euen as if hée had bene king God preserue the Duke of Guise he séeming in no point to dislike of the same The Prince of Conde returning from Monceaulx that hée might goe to his house according to his former purpose and being certefied of the coÌ„ming of the Duke of Guise and of his company to Paris hée altered his purpose and determined to abyde at Paris according to his dutie to defende the kings subiectes being persuaded that his presence would staye the mindes of the citizens of Paris which began to waxe somewhat haughty by the comming of the Guises And truely all men knowe that so long as the Prince remained at Paris there burst forth no great Sedition Notwithstanding there were many great reasons why the Prince and many of the Nobles which were with him should be disdayned For the Guises so soone as they were come to Paris calling vnto them such out of the Senat as they thoght méet had a counsel which they called the Kings counsell as though a councell consisting of the chief officers of the king were very lawfull The which truly séemed very straunge to the Prince of Conde and to those noble men that were with him Is it lawfull to haue any other kings counsell than that which is néere to the king and Quéene and the Prince of Conde the kings néere kinsman to whome a care of the king and Quéene appertayned and being also in the same town in the which the counsell was held not to know thereof This euidently declared a manifest conspiracy which would bring no small hurt to the king and Quéene For if in that counsell of the Guises those things were handled which appertayned to the preseruation of the kings authoritie and the common wealth what cause was there why thei should shoon the presence of the king and Quéene and of the kings coâ—…sell Moreouer it is well enough knowne what displea sure the Guise tooke with the Quéene when he departed from the court complayning misliking that he was thoght to be made acquainted with Nemours his dealing who was accused to go about to carry away the king The Constable also of late very contemptuously vsed the Quéene in woordes méeting with the kings retinew and being told that the king was present hée passed by so vnreuerently as if hée had met with some strauÌ„gers his proud and lofty wordes whiche he also oftentimes vttered at Paris did plainly declare that ther were some new things a working Also the Martial of S. Andrew â–ª did not only refuse to goe to attend vpon his charge coÌ„mitted vnto him by the kings commaundment but also before all the kings counsel he so contented with the Quéene in brawling woordes that it might euidently appeare that hée leaned to some other greater trust In consideration therfore of these men which seperating themselues from the Kings counsell called a couÌ„sell of their owne authoritie and put men in armour the Prince of Conde could not but looke for some lamen table ende Beside all this when the Quéene had openly declared that hir will was that
aucthoritie to giue commaundement vnto them to vnarme themselues and to go home to their houses and afterward to make them answere to the same But admit that they had aucthority to abide stil with the Kyng against right and all approued customes being but his seruants only and to beset him round about with such souldiours as they haue gathered together by their priuate aucthoritie yet notwithstāding it cānot be denied but that I haue great iniury I I say which shoulde haue this prerogatiue before them beinge the Kinges néere kinsman and which haue not put on Armour but by them constrayned only for this cause to defend the Kyng the Quéene and my selfe from violence these thinges I say considered I haue great iniury except I haue leaue in like mauer for mée mine to be about the kyng which are sworne as well as others vnto him and which I say and affirme are the Kynges faithfull subiectes and seruants as they haue both shewed already and also will shew hereafter at what time they shall be commaunded by the kyng of Nauar the kynges Deputie to defend the kynges libertie and the aucthority of the Quéene and of the kyng of Nauar being ready for the same to spende both their life and goods But and if they will not suffer the Quéene to vse that equallitie that she ought let her not leane to the one part more than to the other howbeit if she be more inclined to any part she should rather be inclined to me being a Prince and the kynges néere kinsman and let her vse her aucthoritie to remedy the mischtefe at hand otherwise than she hath done before for no man wyll thinke that any thing hath ben done by her consent séeing that shée is of such wisedome and so carefull for the preseruation of the kyng her Sonnes dignitie that she woulde not bée negligent to do her dutie in a matter of so great waight But there is no doubt but that which shée did was for feare of them which hauing hir in holde pulled her from doing of her dutie When as also it is manifest that the King is broughte to that state that he is constrained to graunte manye things against his will. To proue this thing their chusing of new Counsellers shall serue whom they therfore chose that vnder the pretence of a Counsell the Quéene might be constrained to do what they wold by a more clenly way For it is knowne in what order it was done and in what estimation they nowe haue the Quéene who deliverate and take counsell together by them selues a parte and do conclude whatsoeuer they them selues do like of They do many things by their owne priuate authority and when they haue don then they come to aske her minde and opinion And what soeuer they them selues lust to haue done they cause the high Courte of Parliament to confirme the same And in very déede they preuatle more wyth those of the Parliament than the Quéene her selfe can Finallye who will deny that it is necessarye at this time to deliuer the Quéene from feare of this violence that shée may recouer her former authority and so they to lay aside their Armor and to goe home to their houses that all suspicion of violence being taken away there maye be more quietnesse héereafter and the perrils of great calamities auoided For I and all that are wyth me he fully perswaded and bent that except the matter be vprightly and indifferently handled rather to abide the extremity and to sèe the end than that they which haue vsurped to them selues power against all law right to the great hurt and detrement of the Kings subiectes hitherto and also as yet going about to worke their vtter destruction by so many horrible murthers cruelly committed against the kings Edicts should still héereafter impudently procéede in their Insolencie And to take away all occasion of slaunder whych they may haue against me héereafter wheras they say that the kings letters were taken away frō the kings Postes by my cōmaundement I answere that I haue geuen contrary commaundement to those that attend vppon me neither were there letters at any time taken by them which were sent eyther to the king to the Quéene or to the king of Nauar. This I confesse to be true that there haue bene many letters taken which haue bene sent to diuers priuate persons by which are to be séene an infinite number of sclaunders false rumours counselles and practises against me many thinges being quite contrary to those promises which they haue made vnto me concerning peace and concorde But concerning the casting downe of the Images at Towers and at Blais I protest that I was very sory for the same in so much that I signified to the kinges Officers which are in those places that I would ayde and assist them to punish those according to the kings lawes which should be found gilty in the fact This is and may be an Argument of my will and meaninge the which also I haue done and doe as yet at Orleans Euery one of what state and condition so euer he be of prayseth and commendeth the moderation and behauiour of al those which are with me which liue peaceably and quietly with the Townes men without any maner of offence or breach in any poynt of the Edicte of Ianuary And as touching those which kéepe in hould certayn Cities I affirme that they do it for no other cause than to keepe those Cities for the vse of the Kinge and not to suffer them to come into their handes which abusing both the Kings name and his Artillery do séeke to get power for their owne priuate profite For so sone as the Quéene shal be restored to her former liberty and into that state wherin she was within these thrée Monethes she shal wel perceiue and vnderstand that those Cities will shew all obedience to the Kinge and to her as they had euer done before and will alwayes continue in the same so faithfull that in that point they will geue place to no Citie within the Kings dominion no not to Paris which of late hath gone about to cause this ciuill warre spending great store of money to that end and all vnder pretence of Religion And nowe I and mine are so farre from forgetting these thinges and buryinge them in silence as we are wished to do that we would rather haue thē to be chronicled for euer to be written in Tables and to be portrayed in letters of Golde and to be shrilly proclaymed throughout all Christian realmes that they may sée our dutifull obedience and faithfull trust shewed towardes our King greatly iniured in this his younge and tender yeres and also that so notable an example of my courage concord with the rest of the Nobilitie of France which haue ioyned our selues together with one hart consent to preserue the dignity of the kinge Quéene may be a memorial for euer in writing to the posteritie I for
my part truly do thinke that I could not haue better occasion offered to expresse my loue and duty towards the kinge and to get vnto my selfe true honour and prayse than by this meanes and fully I am perswa ded that my King and Prince will consider my dutifull seruice which I now shew vnto him when he commeth to that age that he is able to iudge hereof and to weigh the sayth and truth of my good wil shewed in such time of néede For these causes duly considered and weyed I which haue sought al meanes and wayes to paceâ—…y these troubles which are like to bring destruction to the realme which haue offered and do offer still al reasonable coÌ„ditions to be takeÌ„ for the laying aside of armour on both parts only vpon consideratioÌ„ of the king and Quéene of the coÌ„mon welth do protest again before the king quéene before al the states of the realme that the whole fault and blame of all those calamities and mischéeues which are like to ensue by the meanes of these warres is to be attributed to those alone whom I haue declared to be the causes of these perturbations troubles who refuse in the presente peryll of the destruction of the Realme to departe from the Courte and the kinges Counsell which their armor layd apart would bring peace and concord I do earnestly pray and beséech all the kings Courts and Parliaments and all estates and degrées to weigh and consider all thinges in due time and to be diligent in doing of their duties for the preseruation of the kinges dignity and the authority gouernement of the Quéene that one day they may geue an accouÌ„t of their doings as I trust to do of mine to the king when he cometh to his lawful age that they may rather haue praise reward for their doings than reproch ignominy And not to forslow themselues either for to satisfy their own desires or for fear or fauor of those which seeke to colour their faultes And to conclude I hartely pray and beséeth all the Kynges faythfull subiectes to helpe ayde and assiste me in this so good and iust a cause callinge God to witnesse that I onely for the aduancement of Gods glory for the setting of the Kynge and Quéene at theyr former liberty whom I sée beséeged and inclosed about with theyr subiectes for the mainteyninge of the Quéene in her authoritie for the defendinge of the common wealth and for the putting away of those iniuries offered to the Kinges subiectes for these causes I say I haue bene prouoked to put my selfe in armour and to resist theyr violence The which euen at this day I iudge and sée to bée so profitable to bridle the outragious madnesse that I trust hereafter God will blesse my labours and will bringe the woorke which he hath put into my handes to so good effecte and to so prosperous an ende that his name shal be glorified our Kynges dignitie and Royal seate defended and peace and tranquilitie main tayned This was the whole summe of this Protestation which the Prynce of Conde sente to the Kinge and Quéene by certayne Messengers to whom he gaue commaundement to declare howe earnestly he deuÌ„red peace for the which he woulde refuse no indifferente conditions He wrote also to dyuers Princes that were his fréendes in the kingedome of Fraunce and specially to the Princes of Germany whom he prayed to be meanes to make peace amonge them He wrote also letters to the Emperour the fower and twenty day of May to this effect In consideration of the singuler clemency humanity and wonderfull wisedome which for diuers causes I haue thought to be in you I thought it my dutye although to my great gréefe to make you acquaynted with the state of Fraunce Know you therfore that the matter is come to this that the Guises conspiring with the Constable and the Martiall of S. Andrew haue gotten the king into their hands insomuch that they haue taken away from him and froÌ„ the Quéene their liberty and setting at naught the kinges Edictes they do euen what they list themselues And they haue already so begoon their Practises and Counsailes that if they may bring them to effect ther is no doubt but that the kings dignitie and the liberty of the kingdome of Fraunce wil quight be ouer throwne But to the ende you may vnderstand the whole matter I sende here vnto you the trew and plain explication of al things whych both the Guises and I my selfe haue done in this businesse By which it may euidently appeare that the Guises are the conspiratours and the breakers of the kings lawes and dignitie But I to stay these troubles for the defence of my kinge to whom I am bound both by duty and also by the bonde of nature also for the Realme my natiue contrey will spend all that I am able and my life it selfe And I alone will not do this but a great manye more of the same mind Wherfore I huÌ„bly beséech you to waigh and consider the reasons of all my doings the which if they seme iuste and good be an ayde I pray you in these perillous times to the king and Quene and to al the family of Valesia and set to your helping hand for peace and concorde In so doing your maiestie shall do a most godly acte He sent letters also to the Countie Palatine called Frederike all most to the same effect with both his writings also in the which he declared the maner of his doinges and because he had alwaies wished al his actions to be knowen to all men and to be iudged of those that will vprightly consider of the same he sayde he greatly desired that the truth of all thinges might be faithfully and truly knowen to all men to the end all those slaunders might be takeÌ„ away which his aduersaries the authours of al the trouble to his infamy euery where colourably spred abrode Although therefore the truth nedeth no defence and although he had both the testimony of a good conscience and also a sure testimony of many men for all his doinges to maintaine his cause yit notwithstanding he said he thought good to signifi vnto him with how great care labour he had sought as it became a faithful subiecte to do to make peace and quietnesse Where by hée trusted that he should sée both his faithfulnes towardes the king in the which he would alwaies abide and also should marualle at the peruerse obstinacy of his enemies which intend rather to coÌ„fouÌ„d peruert al things than to forsake their ambitiouse desire to rule Therefore hée sayd that hee wold write vnto him those things which he had great cause to lament beséeching him that for the loue and friendship which he bare to the King the realm he would helpe to further his purpose which only tended to the working of peace and tranquillitie To the same effect also he wrote two
letters to the Duke of Sabaudia About the same time there was a Synode of the reformed churches of Fraunce at Orleans to the which there came diuers Ministers of Gods word and certaine chosen men also of other churches There was chosen accor ding to custome by the coÌ„mon consent of the whole assemblie to moderate this Synode Antonius Champdâ—…us minister of Gods word in the congregatioÌ„ of Paris a maÌ„ of singular godlynes learning eloquence and modesty This man was borne of a noble house and being but a very yong man be embraced and professed the doctrine of the Gospell in so much that hée was chosen by the church to the ministery of Gods word the same church being but tender and yong and beside that much anoyed with affliction as he was chosen to this office so was he no lesse diligent in the same whereby hée became a most profitable meÌ„ber to the chuche but specially to the coÌ„gregatioÌ„ of Paris of the which he was SuperinteÌ„dent In this Synode there arose a great controuersie concerning ecclesiastiall discipline which certaine light heads at that time began to discusse seeking to maintayne the licentiousnesse of the common people This controuecsy being at this time stayed burst forth afterwarde more vehemently and troubled many churches And because the ciuill warres increased more more the Ministers by a common decrée proclaymed publique prayers to be made in euery congregatioÌ„ to turn away the wrath of God from the Realme who was not without great cause displeased with the same And they sent to euerye congregacion letters to this effect Al meÌ„ euidently sée what great troubles are at hand like to fall vpon the Realme and the whole churche for the which specially this mischief is prouided Sathan his soldiers enuying the propagation and prosperity of the Gospell and the peace which the same hath enioyed by the great goodnesse of God. And do perceyue that the causes of those troubles are the iuste iudgements of God punishing the sinnes of men which reiect so notable a benefite as the glad tydings of the gospel the power of God to saluatioÌ„ or else estéeme not so reuerently of the same as they ought Our sinnes therfore are the very causes of these calami ties so that we must seriously séeke all that wée may too appease the iust wrath of God but specially they who vnder the name of the reformed Religion liued very wickedly But to such as doo truly and from the bottom of their hartes repent them study to liue in newnesse of life the promises of God are effectuall and doo appertayne Séeing therfore the matter is come to this point that all men maye plainly sée that they which raise vp these troubles of warres do séeke the ruine of the Gospel and of the church and therfore do warre and fight against God himself they must pluck vp their spirits be of good courage and certaynly perswaded that God will not fayle his seruaunts whom he vouchsafeth so to aduaunce that whereas thei haue deserued to be seuerely punished for their sinnes they might be afflicted for the truthes sake and for the glory of his name What haue the enemies left vndone by which thei might extinguish the doctrine of the gospell Yet notwithstanding it hath escaped Sathan and the Romish Antichrist â—…etting fuming in vayn Therfore we must make this our cry The Gospell is assaulted the destruction of the church is sought and open warre proclaymed against god Therfore god will fight for him selfe and for his There are also other causes â—… for beside that their deâ—…estable counseil to abolish the Church all men knowe that they goe about to bring most gréenouse troubles vpon the realm to the ende they themselues alone may gouerne They haue arrogantly broken the Edict of Ianuary they haue added cruelty to their impudent boldnesse they haue put the Kings subiects to death in diuers places vsing quietly the benefit of the Kings Edicts and they haue haÌ„dled them more cruelly than euer were any forreyn enimies What mischief hath not their vnbridled crueltye brought to passe They came to the king being but yoÌ„g to the Quéene a woman and not able to resiste armed with a band of men and tooke them and caryed them wil they nil they whether they would And hauing captiued both their bodies and their willes at their owne pleasure they most impudently abused them breakinge the Kings Edictes and violating his dignitie Therefore say they there are great causes why we shuld hope that God the author of humane societie but specially the preseruer of his church will not suffer the vnbrideled force of those violent and cruell counsailes to procéede more outragiously than they doe but will make hys Churche in the middest of all the trouble the conquerer And we haue a new and manifest argument beside those which haue appered heretofore of this his good wil towards his seruants in that hée hath in these dayes of his afflicted church raysed vp the Prince of Conde to be a Patrone and defender of this cause by miracle of hys diuine prouidence For this cause we must gyue harty thanks vnto God the first and principall author of thys benefit we must looke for happy successe of his cause And because hée will vse this meane to preserue his church we for our partes must be diligent faithful cou ragiouse and constant least we omitte good occasion to bring things to passe being offered Wee séeke the coÌ„ser uation of the Gospell and of the church and for the befendinge of the libertie and dignitie of the King of the Realme and the whole common wealth Who will denie that these are iust and lawfull causes to put on Armour and specially for them to whom that authoritie appertaineth It is méete and necessary ther fore say they that you and we to the vtmost of our pow er and to the spending of our liues do aid and assist the Prince of Conde the rest of the kings officers which haue made a sollemne vow for the defence of the King the Realme and the Church and to be very carefull to giue vnto the Prince of Conde for this cause money fourniture and all maner of warlike prouision whensoeuer he shall require the same In so doing they said this thing should be so profitable for them all that nothing can be more necessary the time being considered And as they thought it to be their dutie to admonish them of these things séeing that now the glory of God the safetie of the Church and the preseruation of humane societie was to be sought for euen so saye they you must not delay the matter being of so great waight by any maner of meanes But forsomuch as all mans helpe is wholely vnprofitable and vaine except wée haue first of all the helpe and ayd of God the aucthor reuenger of this cause We must take héede that wée be diligent in calling vpon God and that we professe
cause which was not perticuler but generally belonging to all men and that I should resist open force and tyrāny and restore libertie of conscience to the men of the reformed Churches by the benefite of the kings Edicte after so great and so longe affliction whereby they sayd I should preserue the authoritie and dignitie of the king and the Estates For these causes the greatest part of Noble men and Gentlemen vppon conscience of their dutie knowing that they were bound hereunto both by diuine and also by mans lawe haue followed me and with these the greatest part of the kings subiectes and his most noble Cities haue voluntarily ioyned themselues with me and rather by diuine than humane reason haue elected and created mée with one voyce and consent for this cause to be their Captayne The which office I being of the kings bloud and naturally bound to the Crowne of Fraunce haue taken vpon mée and haue sworne to maintayne the glory of God the dignity and conseruation of the king the Realme hauing also entered into league with them in respecte whereof I haue bound my selfe vnto them and cannot be discharged of my othe againe without the solemne consent of my fellowes to whom I haue giuē my faith And whereas I offered to the Quéene to become a banished man vpon this condicion If by the departing of vs fewe the common peace and libertie of Religion might bee obtayned it is manifest that my departure shall open a gap to more miserable destruction and therefore there is no cause why I should be bound by that my promise If I should departe the realme I should leaue the King in this his nonage in perill of the ambition and violēce of straungers and the Crowne of the which I am by nature a defender and protector in hasard of lying in the dust Agayne it cannot be that the Kinges subiectes should be in the more securitie through my departure whē this one thing is manifest that the Shepeheard beeing away ▪ the Woulfe maye the more easely destroye the flocke Can I thinke that so great a multitude can be sent out of the realm without their great hurt and without the great destruction of the whole realme Therefore for my duties sake to do the which I am bound both by nature and also by my othe I cannot neyther ought I to depart out of the Realme specially in these perillouse tymes vnlesse I would incurre the faulte of a fugitiue and startaway For as touching the reasons which my aduersaries bring to couer their wickednesse and to diswade me from the defence of so iust a cause they are so weake of so small waight that no man will estéeme them but those which are affectionate vnto them For whereas they say that from that time hitherto the Quéene hath altered her purpose disalowed the Edicte and allowed their bearing of armour and had giuen hir authoritie to the King of Nauarre to rule and order the whole matter it is nothing First bycause it is more probable and agreable to reason that whatsoeuer the King the Quéene and the viceroy determined and decréed when they had full libertie and when the kingdome was in peace is more firme and sure than that which they approue and confirme in these troublesome tymes when they are after a sort constrayned by force of Armes Secondly the Quéene cannot alow the gathering togyther of domesticall and forein Armyes of men and the beginning of warre contrary to the auncient custome of the lawes of Fraunce and the late decrée of the states and that for so euil an end purpose as to breake the Kinges Edicte the decrée aforesaid made solemly by the Quenes cōmandement but she must also ouerthrow the foundation vppon which her authoritie standeth which by that meanes should be of no force Neyther can she of her selfe put ouer to another her authority and power to gouerne bycause it commeth not vnto her by natural right but is giuen vnto her by the benefite and consent of another Moreouer touchinge the king of Nauarre whether hée be Viceroy or Legat he hath no such authority that he may commaund the Guises or any other to gather togyther armies of men and that without the commaundement of the Quene or the kings lawfull Counsaile chosen by the states The which was not obserued when the Quéene gaue them commaundement to put of their armour Neyther is it of greater waight or force that the Quéene since that tyme hath approued the bearing of armour and the musteringe of souldiers bycause in those matters it cānot be sufficient to haue only a bare allowing or approuing in the which a sure and expresse commaundement is required To conclude admit the Kinges Counsaile were such as it ought to be by the decrée of the States and that there were ioyned therwith the authoritie of the Quéene and of the Kinge of Nauar God forbid that any man how great soeuer his authority be in the tyme of the Kinges nonage might gather an army proclayme warre and put the power of the King and the Realme into the hands of a subiect be he neuer so faithfull without the wil and consent of the States first had and specially when the purpose is so euill and that the Kinges ▪ Edict should be broken These thinges of me considered I haue determined not to forsake my king in his young age and my Countrey and Religion all which requyre my helpe Therefore I haue brought my army more neare my enemies my souldiers being very willing and couragious to set vppon the enemy and to ioyne battaile But our enemies which haue so often triumphed ouer vs scorned vs haue found no better way than to packe and steale away secretly in the night Therefore forsaking to ioyn battail with vs thei came to Blais a town without any Garrison vnlooked for besieged the same and when they had won it they shewed al maner of cruelty and since that tyme they haue spoyled as yet do spoile cruelly many of the Cities of this Realme And as for the Quéene though she know the goodnes of our cause and that I haue done nothing but by her commaundement yet neuerthelesse bycause she is more a fraide of the power and subtill practises of our aduersaries than she trusteth to the good successe of oure parte mindeth to giue her selfe wholy vnto them anddoth more openly and vehemently fauour them as may plainly appear by these effectes Therefore shée gaue her selfe wholy to the Cardinal of Lorrayn who at that tyme was with her to be gouerned by him although shée knewe well enough the couetousnes ambition cruell mind which is in him and in the rest of that stocke which haue bin the causes of most greuous troubles in the Realme of Fraunce ▪ since that tyme that they haue borne any rule Therfore the Cardinall left nothing vndone that might hinder peace as may appeare by hys letters which by chaunce came to our handes
the siege that the Guise had begon Notwithstanding the army being herewith much discouraged ▪ and the Queene and the Prince of Conde geuing commaundement that truce might be taken on both partes they raysed their siéege and departed Then a peace was intreated the Constable faithfully as it might séeme promising the same to the men of Orleans Therefore there was oftentymes mutuall conference betwéene both partes frée communication had also euen among the common Souldiers In the meane time the Admirall prospered very well and had good successe in Normandy and hauing wonne Cane a noble Citie in Normandy and hauing great store and aboundance of money had no doubt brought greater things to passe within a short tyme if the peace had not bin a stay vnto him Therefore the peace was now in question betwéene the Quéene and the Prince of Conde the Constable earnestly soliciting the same by his letters The Quéene although she sawe her parte to be in worst cace two of her principall Captaines being destroyed and the third taken and on the contrary part although the Prince of Conde were taken yet that the rest of the Captaines florished and preuayled although I saye she sawe these things yet notwithstanding she dissembling with a double hart made the Prince of Conde beleue and hope for greate matters and made him bende vnto her will so much as she could Therfore certain cōditions of peace were propounded to the Prince of Conde but not indifferent in the which conditions many thinges were discided concerning the Edict of Ianuary by which Edicte the Prince of Conde would haue had the peace formed and framed Then the Quene the Prince of Conde the Constable and the Andelot came togyther to Parley in a certaine Ileland called Boum neare to Orleans the Admirall which at that tyme was in Normandy being aduertised of the same And after much communication to and fro the peace was at the last concluded the xiii day of March in manner and forme following ALL men see and knowe with what troubles seditions and tumultes this our kingdome for certayne yeres by the iust iudgement of God hath ben tormoyled and tossed our subiectes being the occasion and cause therof through the diuersitie of opinions concerning religion To prouide a remedie for the which there haue ben hytherto had many conuocations of the most singular and wyse men of the whole realme by whose aduise and coun saile many Edictes and decrees haue ben made as the necessity of the tyme required meaninge thereby to preuent a mischief and stop greater inconueniences like to ensue Neuerthelesse the iniquitie of tyme by little and little hath so preuayled and the Lorde by his secrete and iust iudgement prouoked by our sinnes and wickednes hath not restrayned but suffered those outragiouse trou bles to haue their course and that so far forth that an infinite sorte of murders bloudshed rapine spoyle and destruction of Cities haue come thereof beside the violating of temples the ioyning of battayles and an infinite number of mischeeues mo in diuers places In so muche that if this mischief proceed any further seeing there are so many straungers in our Realme and more dayly lyke to come we may playnly see and beholde the ineuitable ruyne and destruction of the whole Realme beside the great losse of so many Princes and noble men and valeaunt Captaynes already made by the authours of these troubles which Noble men vnder the mighty hande of God are the onely strength and true defence and protection of this our Crowne The which things we haue diligently considered and deuised alwaies and remedies to helpe in time yet notwithstanding seeing we see that all the inconueniences whiche come of this warre doe redownde to the diminution and detriment of this our realm and haue felt by experience to our great hurt and losse that this remedy is not sufficient for this purpose we haue thought that there can be no better way thā first of all for vs to flee vnto the infinite grace and goodnesse of our Lord God by his help to seeke for peaceable quiet remedies to cure the soarenesse of this great and mischeuous disease in the eyes of man almost incurable to bring the willes of our subiects to vnitie and concord and to the acknowledging of that obedience and duety which belongeth vnto vs being speedy remedies to kepe our subiectes in peace trusting that the frute of a generall or nationall Counsell will bring suche assured peace and certayne tranquillity to the honor and glory of God that wee shall haue all great cause to ioye in the same In the which matter we wil haue the good and wholesome Counsayle of the Queene our most louing and reuerend mother of our most louing Cosynes the Cardinall of Borbon of the Prince of Conde of the Duke of Monpensier and of the Prince Rochsuryon of the Princes that are of the Kings bloud of our beloued Cosines also the Cardinall Guise Duke de Aumall Momorencius the Constable of the Duke Estamp of the Marishalls Brissac and Burdillon of the Lords the Andelots and of other peeres of the Realme and men of the Kings counsail All the which with one consent and mynde haue thought meete and necessary that these thinges following should bee ordayned and decreed for the common wealth and profit of our realme the which wee will and commaund to abyde firme and immutable that is to say THAT all noble men hereafter hauing the rule and go uernement of Prouinces may peaceably and with the libertye of their consciences liue in those houses in the which they shall dwell with their families and seruaunts and enioy the vse of the reformed religion so called with out any impediment or trouble And it shal be lawefull for all noble men and their families what iurisdiction soeuer they haue to vse the same religion at home and in their houses so that they dwell not in those villages and townes that are subiect to the greater Iurisdiction In which places they cannot haue the vse of the Religion without the leaue and licence of the higher powers VVe appoint to euery Office Senate or Court whose first appeale belongeth vnto the higher courts a citie at the peti ciō of the mē of reformed religion to the which citie the men of those offices and Courtes may come and haue the vse of the reformed religion and no otherwyse nor any where else Notwithstanding all men may liue euery where peaceably at home without any perill or harme for the vse of religion and their cōscience Furthermore all men in those cities in the which that religion was exercised the vii day of this moneth of March beside those cities which shal be specially appointed to euery Court shall haue leaue to vse the administration of that religion still in one or two Cities which shal be appointed vnto them Notwithstanding it shall not be lawfull for the men of the reformed religion to occupie the churches
but newly ended Frances the Duke of Guise being murdered the chiefe and most expert Captaines dead finally the Constable hymselfe a man of a most spightful and cankered stomack against the Protestantes was afraid and trembled at the remeÌ„brance of the bloudy slaughters that were before committed and was very loth to fight againe a fresh any new battailes Wherefore they take another way and deuysed new fetches and sleightes to compasse that which by open force they could not atchieue Of which deuises the Cardinall of Lorraine an olde enemie of the reformed Churches had coined great store and put them foorth to be practised The Counsaile at Trent that had bin often before renewed by great diligence was now again summoned Thither went the Cardinalâ—… of Lorraine in the name of all the Popishe Prelates of Fraunce hauinge before he tooke his iourney by the helpe and counsaile of some of the counsailours of Paris deuised and protested a grenous and sharpe accusation againste the Admirall as though he had commaunded Merae to kill the Duke of Guise and giuen him money for that purpose Mere was now already dispached out of the waye with extreame punnishment as we haue before declared and a wryting published abrode in the tyme of war of his examination wherein the Admirall was called the aucthor and procurer of that murder The Admirall as also is exprest in the former booke had made aunswere to that wryting in which his aunswere he first requested that Merae might bee kept a liue to the entent the accuser mighte appeare face to face with the accused accordinge to order of Lawe and iustice But after that execution was done vppon Merae he complained that the same was done in such poste haste to the end all meanes to purge himselfe by the accuser beinge taken from him preiudicat and hurtfull opinions of false accusations mighte be conceyued against him But the Cardinall laboured by all meanes possible vnder pretence of that accusation to procure hatred againste the Admirall and had replenyshed many mennes mindes with displeasure and malice against him alwaies laying abrode and shewing the horror and vnwoorthines of that murther so shamefully committed by treason vppon so woorthy and noble a man. And besides a great number that were welwillers and followers of the dead Duke he stirred vp the harts of forrein Princes against him and wrote to the Emperour Ferdinando of the same matter and to diuers other Princes of Germany And this was the cause and beginning of many and great troubles â–ª The Kinge of Spaine also being moued thereunto by the often letters of the Cardinal did write vnto the King that there was no peace to be obserued and kept with such betrayinge Traitores that had defiled themselues with the bloud of a man so notable and famouse The Admirall wrote to the King to the Quéene his mother and as much as he can purgeth himselfe and shifteth of his accusations complaininge that they were but iniuries offered vnto him by the Cardinall of Lorreine and publisheth abrode for his owne defence a certaine writinge as hereafter followeth Those thinges saith he which I aunswered to the accusation of Merae in my former writing gyuen vp to the Queene the Kinges mother and published abroade throughout the whole kingdome ought to be sufficient to discharge and free me of all kinde of blame with all men of wisdome and discreation and not before them only which haue had triall and knowledge howe I haue led my lyfe heretofore but with them also which knowe and vnderstand howe naturall and vnfayned the hewe and colour of truth is and how simplye and plainly she vseth to tell her tale Especially seeinge I did so earnestly request that my accuser Merae might be reserued to appeare against me VVhich certainly I would neuer haue done had I not bin therto moued by an assured cleare conscience of my iust cause and innocencie This my request was not in vaine nor to cloke the matter for I did not aske it by violence forcibly nor yet for a fashion slightly but only for this one end and purpose that the truthe mighte be knowen and made manifeste to all the world But this request beeinge denied me I did verely thinke with my selfe and esteeme all the iudgementes that the parliamente of Paris had giuen againste me as void and of none effect vvhose entent was as by the hasty and spedy execution of my aduersary it did appeare to pres me with false and preiudicial surmises al meanes of reprouing conuincing mine accuser being quight cut of I haue therefore done that which my duty requyred and requested that the matter might be handled and knowen according to order of law And whereas besides the letters I seÌ„t to the Quene of this matter I haue newpublished this writing abroad I haue not done it with out great and waighty cause and the aduise and counsaile of wyse and pollitique men For by that my request I was in good hope to haue stayed the spedy expedition of the execution which the Iudges being very sore bent against me did hasten and helpe forward all that they could Also by this meanes I thought the end of the broiles and troubles that were then being vncertaine to haue satisfied the desires of many men which desired to know the matter especially of forreiners and straungers amongst whom I was euill spoken of by infamous Libelles and false malicious sclaunders vntill such time as I hauing my aduersarie before me might haue better occasion more clearely to purge my selfe Moreouer I did know for a certainty not only that Merae had vtterly denyed and renounced his former accusation against me whereby it was manifeste that he did that which he did by plaine force and threatninges but also that his priuy and secret confessions were in my ememies handes by which â—…e did declare me to be innocent and guiltles of the matter All other accusations therefore wherewith Merae did charge me and yet if he had flatly and without all doubt pronounced me as guiltie my aunswer all men know might be ready â–ª that forasmuch as I could not bee suffered to talke with him all these thinges which are obiected against me were violently extorted and wringed out of him eyther in hope to escape death or els to moderate and lessen the torment and furie of his punnishment I hold and take as forged and faigned seeing that it may appeare by the testimony of many good and very worthy men that Merae had often tymes said that he had declared before the Iudges that I was cleare and free from all maner blame in that matter and that when he was drawen and had to execution he expresly and openly said that those accusations against me were written and penned downe by my enemies before them only who had left no way in this cause vntried that might seeme to further my accusation and for their sakes in winning of whose fauour al men might
all Fraunce to the great griefe and hart sore of the Papistes for whose cause especially they had procured this exposition of the Edict Wherefore he departing thence went first to the Countrie of Orange and afterwardes at the Quéene of Nauarres commaundment he came to Bearn to confirme and set in order the Churches and Congregations that were there The Papistes now began to mocke and laughe in their sléeues to sée this Declaration gyuen out by the King and published abroad in open writing whereby it was made manifest what an ouerthrow was gyuen to the Edict and being in a brauery and al vpon the hoigh set day and appointed the time and that with threatnings when as it should be vtterly abolished and quite done awaye and warrantinge them selues vppon this beginning they euery day more more without checke violated the Edict There be also new deuises put in practise whereby they might entyce and allure the Prince of Conde from the reformed Religion This fetch was practised before by the Cardinal of Loreine against the king of Nauarre and had preuayled therefore he thought good to proue and trie once againe against the Prince thinking with himselfe that hée might as easely and with the same deuises wherewith he had ouercome the king of Nauar winne also vnto him the Prince of Conde the Quéene of her selfe was ready and desirous to take this matter in hande many other meanes there were that séemed as it were to profer their helpe for the accomplishmeÌ„t thereof The Prince of himselfe was of a myld and soft disposition desirous of peace and euen glutted with the lothsomenesse of the former warres and being altogither bent to kéepe and maintain peace did from his hart abhorre and detest strife and contentious troubles Wherefore hée was much and often at the Court and very familiar both with the King and the Quéene hys mother The Guises also of set purpose séemed not too come so often to the Court nor to be in such fauour with the Quéene as they were wont to bée and all for the Princes sake to win whom there was no fetch no deuise no subtiltie left vntried The Quéene her selfe vsed very often and louingly to shew the deare good will she bare to the Prince and told him that of her self and for her part she dyd fauour and loue him that it was should be both the Kings and her will mind to estéeme and loue as right reason required the Princes their néere kinsmen in their degrée and place that there was good cause why there should bee more néere and deaâ—…e friendship betwixt her and him aboue all others that he should not thinke that any thing had or might hereafter happen that should stay or sâ—…ack the true and perfect good will she bare him so that he would doe his dutie let no occasioÌ„ slip that might aduaunce and enlarge the glory and honour of hers his And many other trayns were intermingled with this talke whereof that subtil and alluring woman thorough her courtly trickes and baytes had great store Beside this there were more particular promises made and that olde forged deuise was renewed of the yéelding and gyuing vp of the I le of Sardina which had ben diuers tymes before that offered to the King of Nauarre and was now agayne promiâ—…ed to the Prince by the Quéen and that in the name of the King of Spayne And that it should not be thought that the matter were but triffled withall in wordes ther were many great gifts bestowed vpon the Prince and his Children Mariage also was attempted that there might be a more sure band and coniunction of amitie amongst them The Marishall of Saint Andrew a man of excéeding great wealth being slayne in the battayle of Dreux had left behind him one onely daughter who was heire of all those goodly and ample possessions To her beinge almost mariageable the Quéene went about to couple the Prince of Condies eldest sonne who was then called the Duke of Augnien the mother of the gentle woman doing all she could to bring that mariage to passe And although the honour and nobilitie of the two howfes were nothing like equall yet the Marshialles daughter had great aboundance of ritchesse on her side which surely is the thing that striketh the strok and beareth greatest sway in marriage matters now in these our dayes wherein men are altogyther gyuen to get wealth and riches The Prince himself was not very vnwilling and therefore kept company very fami liarly with the widowe the Marshialles wife and great curteousie was exercised betwixte them The Marshalles wyfe gaue vnto the Prince of Conde a very fruitfull and beautifull place called the Territory of Ualeri and the Marishiall him selfe had bestowed there for the trimming and beawtifying of it much rickes which King Henry had giuen him in giftes and rewardes this place dyd shée giue vnto the Prince withall the right Title and possessions thereto belonging the Quéen ratifying and allowing the matter very well wherefore euery man looked euery day when that mariage should be solemnized And who in the Courte then but the Prince of Conde who as the nature of man is to slyde and fall through ill companie from exercise and vertuouse trauaill to pleasure and idlenesse began contrary to the institution of the reformed religion and good conuersation to gyue himself to the wanton desire and lust of women and tasting very licentiously of the baytes snaring traynes that were layde for him séemed euery day more and more carelesse of that good and vertuouse Matrone his wife who was of the howse and family of Roye and waxed cold and faynt in the profession and defence of the reformed religion to the great grief feare of all good men but to the great ioy of the papistes who made their vaunts and crackes saying that the Prince would daunce the same daunce that his brother the king of Nauarre had lead defore him And surely there was great likelihood of most lamentable and sorrowfull decay and ruine had not the mercyfull prouidence of god speedely preuented it as hereafter in his place shal bee declared In the vttermost part of the prouince of Languedoc in the way as they go to the mountaines Pyrenâ—…es there is a Citie called Paniez a very rich and populous towne This towne was kept and holden by the Protestants in the time of warre but after that Truce was taken and peace concluded and that Monsieur de Anuill as wee haue before declared was come into Languedoc and had euen wearied all the cities thereof with his outragious and vnruly garrisons the InhabitaÌ„ts of Paniez foreséeing their own dauÌ„ger by other mennes harmes wrote vnto Monsieur de Anuille desiring him that hée woulde not presse and charge them with néedlesse garrisons whereof there should be no need nor vse séeing that they were and would be ready prest to obey all his commauÌ„ dements and did purpose truly
and inuasions of them of Tholouze Aboute this tyme by the adâ—…ise and consent of the Quéene and the counsaile order was taken in certaine graue and waighty matters betwixt the King and his Brother The Dukedome of Orleans was by olde vse and custome of inheritance alwaies giuen to the Kings eldest Brother But bycause many contentions and controuersies did commonly arise betwéene the Kings of France and their second Brothers Dukes of Orleans for diuers considerations of the coÌ„modities of that City and countrey it was thought good and profitable both for the King and the Kingdome that that Dukedome should be taken from the Kinges Brother Wherefore the two Brethren agreeing themselues Alexander â–ª the Duke of Orleans yéelded and gaue vp his Dukedome to the King and had of him for it the Dukedome of Aniou and the Title of Viceroy generall ouer all the prouinces of Fraunce was gyuen him and had also a yerely stipend of an hundreth thousand Crownes which afterward was largely augmented Thus was Orleans taken from the Kinges brother and hée very liberally recompensed for it We spake before of the Prince of Conde and how the Papistes laboured by all meanes possible to entice him from the reformed Religion And surely they had made a great breach wyde entrie to their purpose thorough the to much licentiousnes of the Court that the Princâ—… vsed and the great hope of large gayne that was offred him on all sides But as they were in the midst of their iolitie and triumphing as though they had quight vanquished and reclaimed him to their lure he manfully luckely escaped all their traynes and by this occasion as the Prince did thus gyue himselfe to all pleasure and loosenesse of liuing his wife a most godly and chast matrone tooke sorrow and inward thought at hir hushaÌ„ds imtemperate and disordered conuersacion and thereby with other causes fell gréeuously sicke and stryuing wrestling long with her disease in great sorrowe and laÌ„guishing of mynd at length departed out of this troublesome world but before her death she had very wisely and wittely admonished her husbande to looke well about him and to remember what dutie the knowledge he had of Christian religion and the dignitie and place that God had called him to did require of him The death and this counsell of his wife of whose singular deare and chast loue in his greatest extremities and distresse he had alwayes had sufficient proufe and triall did so moue and stirre him that waying and pondering his estate and calling more néerely and wisely euer after hée tooke vnto him a myraculous and most valeant courage and diligently and willingly obeyed and hearkened to the counsell of such as were good and godly and wexed euery day more and more earnest and zelous in the study of true godlynesse pietie And yit at the first his wifes death seemed to giue great occasion to further and aduaunce the papistes wishe and desire for it was common then in euery mans mouth that the Prince of Conde should marrie with the Quéene of Scotland a veryfaire and beautiful woman and that then the Prince and the Guises should be all one But hee vsing and obeying better aduise did manfully and valiauntly coÌ„temne and despife all those vayne baytes and enticing allurements and afterward married the Dukes sister of Lon gueuille a famouse and worthy man. In the meane time newes came out of all quarters of the cruell slaughters that the papistes committed vpon the protestants which if I should goe about to tehearse it would be a thing of an infinite and endlesse labour nothing appertaining to our purpose for there was accompt made as is euident and to be séene in the commoÌ„ registers of an hundreth and thirtie great slaughters committed in diuers places vpon the faythfull since the publishing of the Edict But there was no mencion I warrant you nor talke of punishment wherefore the Papistes were by this loose and negligente impunitie more and more encouraged to al vnnaturall and outragious crueltie The men of Mayne vnder the conduct and leading of their Bishop who had waged Souldiours for that purpose made horrible hauocke and spoile in many pla ces vppon the Protestantes both man woman child without all respect of yeares younge or old Many complaintes and supplication were put vp to the kinge and the faithfull company of that Countrey set out a wryting openly wherein they declared the horror and abhomination of those mischieuous factes with example of such â–ª furie crueltie as was not erst hard of amongst the Frenchmen Such sauage and cruell madnes had by reason of impunitie enflamed the Bishops mind wyth hatred against Religion Wherefore through all the Câ—…untrey of Maynes in euery Towne and Citie great cruelty was exercised at the Bishops coÌ„maundemente as God willing shall one day be more plainly seene in a full and large discourse of these matters At Creuan a Towne of Burgundy a place appointed by the Kinges commaundement to preaâ—…h the woord of God in when as there was gathered togyther from diuers places of that Prouince a greate nomber of men wemen old men and children altogyther naked and vn armed to heare a Sermon â–ª the Papistes that dwelt in the Towne assembling togyther ranne violently and rushed with force vppon the Protestants And as they began to kill and murther them there was by and by a great vprore and tumult raysed on the contrary parte the papistes were sodenly amased and fearing least the aide of the Protestantes neare adioyninge and of other noble men professoures of the reformed Religion had bin there craftely lefte of their enterprise and so by that meanes the faithfull escaped Notwithstandinge many of them as they stroue to get home to their houses were slaine at the first brunt so the Papistes in Burgundy what by the sufferance of their Lieftenaunt by the setting on of the Counsaile and through the help and ayde of Moâ—…sieur Begat â–ª a seditious and factious Counsailour waxed more and more bould and insolent against the Protestantes Moreouer there assembled vnder coulour of gathering togither the states of euery Prouince certaine companies which they termed the Confraternities or Brotherhoodes of the holy Ghost to the intent to proclaime and denounce euerlastinge and perpetuall warre against the Hugunotes and vnder pre tence of these assemblies many things were haynously seditiously committed Wherfore the Prince of Conde complayned of these misorders to the king Where vppon these conuenticles by the Kinges Interdicte were forbidden and prohibited but all in vaine for the letters wanted that pâ—…iuie signet whereby by the Cardinalles subtiltie and other Papistes of great estimation such letters were knowen as it were of any wayghty matter or importance Monsieur â–ª Begat â–ª the counsailour had alwaies very ryfe in his communication the greate renowne of the Spanish Kinge whereat many men marueiled to see such a fellow borne with all and to be in
to defende themselues vnlesse very spéedy remedie be had For and vppon these considerations I haue thought it my dutie to certifie the King and Quéene thereof as becommeth a good subiect and trustie seruaunt to doe which desireth by all meanes and wayes possible too auoyde and turne away so great and present daunger and perill Neyther sayeth he is there any cause why I should feare that I shal be accompted and taken of their Maiesties as one that is to importune and vnreasonable not regarding eyther tyme or person albeit I haue diuers tymes troubled them already with these matters especially séeing it standeth me vpoon my honor and honestie and the present and vrgent necessitie of thinges doth so earnestly require me to do it that vnlesse I will become both guilty and worthi punishment for so great and common calamities I can not passe so waighty a businesse in silence Wherefore I most humbly beséech your Maiesties that you will not take it in euill parte that I am come by letters to entreat for them that are without all law and Iustice most shamefully spoyled slayne contrary to your highnesse pleasures declared in your Edict And for that they could not by any other meanes obtayne remedie and redresse of their wrongs they are come vnto me for succour thinking that in respect of my néere kynred to your Maiestie the place whereunto I am called in this realme I might obtayn for them that ease and reliefe of their griefes which otherwise they could not get Neyther could I my selfe for these causes and for the obedience I owe to youre Grace refuse to declare and shew vnto your Maiestie with all humble modestie reuerence these so great miseries and calamities For all your highnesse Subiectes haue felt what great profit and vtility hath come to the whole Realme through your Maiesties Edict of peace the which notwithstanding is so defaced and altered from his first forme that no man hath any care once to acknowledge much lesse to obserue and execute it And although your Grace haue diuers tymes plainly declared and exprest that it was your will and pleasure that it should be obserued and kept inuiolably of al men yet notwithstandinge certayne disordered persons that séeke to abolish and deface the reformed religion haue so preuayled that certayne interpretations of the Edict are set forth in your Maiesties name whose prefaces are very notable and good but if a man but of meane iudgement doe marke the ende of them he shall perceyue that they bee nothinge else but deuises and meanes inuented onely to weaken and take away the libertie of the Edicte and now of late at Rossillon when as no man was with your Maiestie that would mayntayne the cause and right of the protestants there was a Declaration set out by which the Edict is so rent and defaced that it is not credible that it should longe continew for thus it hath The Edict sayth Be it lawfull for all noble men hauing chief authoritie their families and those of their iurisdictiō that wil of their own accord to vse and exercise the reformed religion freely and without molestation But the interpretation sayeth That al suche places are exempted from this libertie as were eyther solde or taken by the kings commaundement from the church liuing neyther should such that had any Church reuenewes enioye that benefite Further the Edict sayeth That libertie of religion was not only graunted to the noble men and their families but also to as many of their subiectes as would willingly resort vnto it But the Declaration of Rossillon sayeth further Neyther shall the Noble men suffer or permit any which is not their subiect to come or resort to any sermons or assemblies And that who so doth to the contrary shall for the firste tyme bee fyned at 500. Crownes and for the second tyme loose and forfeite all their howses and Castels wherein any suche sermons or assemblies shal be had or kept Which rigour and seueritie as it is manifest can neuer be obserued and kept séeing that many of the Noble men do not know all their subiectes and few of the subiects one another whereby it may chaunce that one may come to a Noble mans howse and yet be neyther one of his subiectes nor knowne of him who thinkes takes him for his owne subiect and yet notwithstanding should by these meanes be enforced to pay a great fyne and lose also his house wherein the assemblie was gathered togyther The like dannger also should he incurre if one of his neighbours did but come to sée howe he did Which thing would not onely hinder and trouble but also bring to miserable thraldome and slauerie the mutuall and friendly societie of men the chiefe and surest bond of true friendship and the stay and rocke of all common wealthes and Monarchies The Edict saith That there shall be a Citie choosen out and appointed for the administration of the reformed Religion in euery Prouince or presidentship and other places of Iudgement from which it was lawfull to appeale to the high Courtes of Parliament but this last point was neuer yet put in execution neither coulde it be graunted to the protestants although they both earnestly sued for it and the promise it selfe was confirmed by the expresse commaundement of the Kings letters and certaine Cities named to be chosen as fittest and most profitable for that purpose Also where according to the order of the Edict there ought to haue bene a place appoynted for the vse of the reformed Religion within the suburbes of those Cities that were named it was appointed in other inconuenient places xx or xxv leagues of Whervpon followed diuers slaughters and seditions in many places Notwithstanding thys Article of the Edict was altogether broken and violated wherof I doe not thinke your Maiestie causer neyther any of them who without preiudice to eyther part do wishe that the Edict might be truely and incorruptly obserued but rather I iudge your presidentes and other officers to be procurers of it who of a preposterus and disordered zeale and loue they beare to the popishe Religion could not bridle their owne outragious lust but suffered themselues to be carried headlong by their affections to the breach of the Edict and spoyle of them that professe the reformed Religion The Edict saith That liberite and free vse of the reformed Religion is graunted and permitted to all Cities wherein it was exercised the ▪ vii of March 1562. besides those Cities that were to be chosen and appointed in euery Prouince and this shoulde be done in one or two seuerall places of those Cities accordyng as the King thought good to appoint But the interpretation doth permit none to enioy this but those Cities only which were holden by force in the time of warre and so many are defrauded of that liberty in which the vse of the reformed Religion was kepte at the tyme appoynted namely the. vii day of March 1562
the time of troubles and that you thought that they had done all things vppon iust groundes and considerations WhervpoÌ„ they conclude that the same sentence or decrée is so confyrmed by you the which is false séeyng the same decrée against Rapine was giuen forth the thirtéene daye of Aprill and therefore after the Edict made and proclaimed As touching the eyghtene braunch where you say That you are verye sorye that iustice is not truely and purely ministered as you desire and would haue it the which you could not hitherto remedy bycause the men of the reformed Religion had not so fully obserued the Edict as they ought all the Cities which they helde being not rendered vp when as your Maiestie your selfe had first of all giuen them an example of the obseruation of the Edict I would gladly demaund of the Cardinall of Loraine and his fellowes whether I forsoke and rendred vp Orleans by and by yea or no and whether at my commaundement the like was done at Auxer at Suessi and in diuers other places in these parts and as touching those cities which were farther of I demaund whether I sent not certaine with my letters to commaund them to sollowe my example in yéelding vp themselues But to be short if I haue pretermitted no thing which was my dutie to do and which I was able to do can it bée truely said that I haue kept my authoritie still ouer those Cities which are not surrendered To whome therefore maye you iustly impute the cause but to the Cardinall of Loraine who is the the very cause of all violence committed at Orleans at Suessi at Ualence at Cisteron at Auxer and at Saint Spirit the which cities being cruelly vexed haue notwithstanding shewed the principall part of obedience Was this way to cause other cities to surrender and to lay aside their armour Was the staying of the proclamacion of the Edict the waye too make the same too bee obserued Should not the Edict haue ben proclaimed before the men of the reformed Religion had ben punished for not obseruation of the same But they are so farre from desiring the obseruation of the Edict according to the prescript of your will that we haue found some of their letters cleane contrary too the same an example and coppie wherof we haue sent vnto you the letters them selues are in the hands of the Quéene of Nauar being writteÌ„ by the two Capitolles of Tholoz the Magistrate of a towne is so called to their fellowes saying that your Maiestie was sory that the Edict was not proclaimed at Tholoz because thereby the surrender of the Rebellious Cities would be delayed and therfore it was necessary for the commen profit of all men that the proclamation should bee made in the Parliament out of hand notwithstanding without any maner of solemnitie in the proclaiming therof and with those exceptions which the Court shall thinke méete But some wil replie and say that we must not haue regard to a fewe sedicious persons truly we would with all our hartes make no account of them if so be their sedicious counsailes were not effectually commauÌ„ded and yours reiected For it is most true that you were faine so send commaundement foure seuerall times before your Edict would be proclaimed and then it was not so â—…oolorably and fraudulently as maliciously and spitefully done adioyning to the woords of the Edict contrary to the expresse forme therof this sentence 〈◊〉 is contayned in the secret and priuie Commentaries of the Senate by the which words it is plaine that they haue inserted exceptions cleane contrary to the Edict Whereby it may euidently appeare that they are more carefull to defend and enlarge their owne dignitie than the preseruation of your Maiestie and authoritie As though their honour did depend vppon any other than vppon you and although they had any other authoritie to defend than that which appertayneth vnto you The which they shall not do so long as I can find any waye to hinder them And yet notwithstanding their Rebelli on and boldnes is so farre from reproofe that you haue written your letters at the sute of some to approue maintaine the exceptions and delayes in proclaiming your Edict Moreouer where as you say in the former brauÌ„ch That your Maiestie hath in nothing broken your promise I pray you hartely giue me leaue to say that neither I nor any one of the reformed Religion haue felt as yet any frute or profit by this peace and haue enioyed none of those thinges which you haue promised vnto vs but haue felt the oppression violence shewed to vs ward since the peace made to be a great deale more than the hurt and detrement which we receiued by open warre Insomuch that in respect of our selues wee may truly say The time of warre was to vs the time of peace and the time now of pretended peace is to vs the time of most cruell warre Concerning the last braunch where you saye That it is very vnresonable and farre from the dutie of a good subiect to go about to abrogate the authoritie of your Maiestie but that you might when perill is like to ensue and for the auoyding of the destruction of one of your chiefe Cities to alter and change the places appoynted for preaching of Sermons and that you are fully perswaded that the reasons and considerations were such why that libertie was taken from Lions that I also wold haue approued them if I had bene of your counsayle I most hartely beséech your Maiestie to thinke that I would neuer so much forget my self and my dutie that I would but once haue a thought to deminish your dignitie but contrariwise I protest that I would moste gladly spend my life to séeke all meanes and waies that might enlarge the same Let your Maiestie call to mind also that this libertie of Lions is a matter of great waight which also was so greatly debated among vs when the peace was in question And it is wel knowne that the same matter hath bene handeled heretofore in your counsaile at Sangerman when the making of the Edict of Ianuary was in hand at which time were present the most principall of your priuie counsaile the chiefest men out of all your Courtes within this Realme of both sortes of Religion by whom after long disputation it was concluded that in the bordring Cities as in Mets Bolone Callece Ardes and in such other like places there shuld be a preaching place with in those cities to auoyd all occasions of lying in wait of treason Notwithstanding the Cardinall of Loraine and his fellowes will persuade if they can that they which séeke and require the precise obseruation of auncient constitutions and of the Edicts would abrogate your Maiesties authoritie and that they and their fellowes séeke to maintaine and enlarge the same when as in deede they would haue it quight abolished Furthermore it is contained in the former braunch That your Maiestie was
territorie of Bellouac of which he being certified fled and in fléeing was chased by souldiours till he came to the Sea In so much that he was constrayned to leaue the greatest part of his cariage behind him and to take Ship to passe ouer into England It was also commonly reported about this tyme that Charles Sonne to King Philip of Spayne was dead The causes were by diuers men diuersly reported but that which was most credible is That the Inquisitors suspecting him of certain things concerning religion ê“uoked stirred vp the displeasure of the Father against the Sonne that he might depriue himselfe of his onely Sonne and of the lawfull heyre of Spayn Shortly after this also newes was brought concerning the death of Elizabeth wyfe to Philip Kinge of Spayne and Sister to Charles King of Fraunce Furthermore the Duke of Alba dayly more more played the tyrant in Flaunders straining no courtesie at the shedding of innocent bloud wherevpon the prince of Orange being moued partely to discharge his dutie being one of the Princes of the Empire and partely for the loue which hée bare to his Countrey caused a great Army to be in a readinesse that hée might withstand the cruell tyrannie of the said Duke of Alba. He had to ayde him great numbers of horsemen footemen which came out of Germany out of Fraunce and also out of the low CouÌ„trey County Lâ—…dowike also his brother a valeaÌ„t captain came with a great number of good souldiours to ioyne with him COME LORD IESV COME QVICKLY The. ix Booke of Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and of the common wealth of Fraunce vnder the Raigne of Charles the ninth THus beganne the third ciuill war in FrauÌ„ce being more notable than the others goyng before both for the great atteÌ„pts and enterprises and also for the continuance of the same for it troubled the Noble Realme of FrauÌ„ce for the space of two yeres Therefore when newes was brought to the Courte of the departure of the Prince of Conde there was open prouision made on both partes for the warre but both their conditions were not alike For the Papistes had Cities Artillery money and all maner of prouision belonging to warre they had also the Kings name authoritie and power by which they preuailed more than by any other meane But as for the Prince of Conde and the Protestantes they had almost nothing but the goodnesâ—…e of their cause and couragious mindes to defende themâ—…elues who though to the perill of the losse of theyr lyues and goods were almost desperate to defende the same Moreouer they which should haue bene helpers and furtherers of their cause were hemde in and shut â—…p throughout the whole Realme in so muche that it was marueile that the Prince of Conde was able to holde warre and to withstand his enemies in so great extreamitie There were great and vrgent caâ—…ses of newe contention â–ª as the diâ—…pleasure taken for the breaking of the oath solemnlye made the breaking of the Kings promise and common peace and the meâ—…itable necessitie of defending their consciences and liues But the Papistes beyng forward enough of themselues tâ—… destroy the godly were pricked forward by the bloudy â—…uriousnesse of the Cardinall of Loraine Therefore by the Kings commaundâ—…ment for vnder this name the Papistes did what they would the Armies that were dismiâ—…t were nowe called backe againe newe choyse and musteâ—…s of men were had and they were all commaunded to be at Staples the. x. dayâ—… of September The wholâ—… ordering and charge of the warre was committed tâ—… Alexander Duke of Angewe the Kings brother being but a young man notwithstanding he had ioyned with him certaine valiant captaines as we sayde before Then were baytes and â—…nares subtiâ—…ly layde and in the Kinges name the gouernours of the Prouinces published a decrée as thus The Kyng commaundeth that all the men of the reformed Religion be vnder his protection no lesse than anye other of his subiectes that they may haue leaue to complaine of iniuries done to them that they may haue remedies prouided out of hande as it is meete and conuenient for their defence and that all Magistrates should be vigilant to defend them In the meane tyme he that caryed the Prince of Condes letters to the King after the deliuerie of them was taken and committed prisoner to a certaine noble man and no answere made to the letters The Prince of Conde when he had stayed in the house of Rochfoucant certaine dayes wente wyth hys whole retinew to Rochel of whose inhabitantes he was very louingly receiued And thether came vnto him the inhabitantes of Xantonge of Poictou of Perigueux of Engolmoys and a great number of noble men of the Regions thereaboutes which embraced the reformed religion and as for the common sort of people they came vnto him out of all those quarters by beapes The Câ—…ties also called Sainctes Tifauge and Montagu offered themselues vnto him But for all this he sente letters to diuers partes of the Realme requiring ayâ—… of hys fellowes and forsomuch as the Protestantes were expulsed almost euery Citie it seemed good vnto him that they shoulde come with all spéede to hiâ—… to Rochel and then hauing greater power to ioyâ—… battaile wyth the enemie Notwithstanding in many places by the wonderfull prouidence of God there were diuers places of refuge reserued throughout the whole Realme as to the men of Francoys Sanferre and Uezelay to the men of Languedoe Montalban Castrealby and Milliaulde to the men of Dolpheny which at that time were in great perill the Cities of Uiuaretze were reserued as Albenac Priuac and many others But before the Prince of Conde began any warre he published a certaine solemne declaration of the causes of the same In manner and forme as followeth I protest before God and his Angels and before this holy assembly that â—…as I also declared in my last letters which I sent vnto the King my Lord intend to do nothing against his Maiestie which may either hurt his person or dignitie but taking him for my Kinge and supreme Lorde next vnder God by him so appoynted I protest that whatsoeuer I doe is for no other cause but to keepe and defende the liberties of our consciences the free vse of the reformed Religion our lyues honours and goods from the tyrannie and oppression of the Cardinall of Loraine and his fellowes â–ª the whiche tyrannie they haue alwayes hytherto shewed and minde still to vse towards the men of the reformed Religion contrary to our kings will whiche he hath openly declared by publique Edicts and decrees thereby breaking the common peace and tranquiâ—…itie And for this cause to the end I may defend their lyues honours goods and the libertie of their consâ—…ences which professe the reformed religion I affirâ—…e that I wyll spende bothe my lyfe and whatso euer eâ—…se God hath giuen vnto me And bâ—…cause there came souldiers daye by daye vnto
vs to God and that their Reliques ◅re to be worshipped That the commaundemēts and traditions of the Catholike Apostolike and Romishe Churche as well they which pertaine to the forme and ceremonies of diuine ◅ruice and to assist the same which I thinke bee too drawe Christian people to pi◅ie and turning to their God as fasting absteyning from meates obseruation of holy dayes and ecclesiasticall pollicie according to the tradition of the Apostles and holye Fathers continued since the primitiue Church till this time and afterwards brought into the Church by the ordinances of councels receyued in the same of long and auncient time or of late be good and holy to the whiche I wil and ought too obey as prescribed and appointed by the holye ghost the author and directer of that which serueth for the keping of christian religion and of the catholike Apostolike and Romaine church I beleeue also and accepte all the articles of originall sinne and of Iustification I affirme assuredly that we ought too haue and kepe the images of Iesus Christ of his holye mother and all other saincts and do honor and reuerēce vnto thē I confesse the power of indulgence and pardōs to be left in the church by Iesus Christ the vse of thē to be very heathful as also I cōfesse the church of Rome to be the mother and chief of al churches and cōducted by the holy Ghost and that other pretended particular inspirations against the same come of the suggestion of the Deuill the Prince of di◅ention which woulde separate the vnion of the mysticall body of the sauiour of the worlde Finally I promise straightly too kepe all that was ordained at the last general councel of Trēt and promise to God and you neuer more to depart from the Catholike Apostolike and Romaine Church and if I do which God forbid I submit my selfe to the penalties of the canons of the sayd Church made ordeyned appointed against them which fall backe intoo Apostasie The which Abiuration and Confession I haue subscribed THE KINGS LETTERS TO M. DE GVISE and other Lieutenantes and Gouernors of his Prouinces by the which he wholly abolisheth and subuerteth al the Edictes of Pacification and willeth that onely the Romish Religion should take place in his Realme THe King knowing that the declaration which he made vpon the occasions which lately cha◅ced in the Citie of Paris the remembrances and instructions of his will which he sent rou◅d about to all Gouernours of his Prouinces and Lieutenants generall therin and particular letters to the Seneshals and his Courts of Parliament and other officers and Ministers of Iustice cā not hitherto staye the course of murders and robberies done in the most part of the cities of this Realme to his Maiesties great displeasure hath aduised for a more singular remedie to send all the sayd Gouernours into euery of their charges and gouernements assoring him selfe that according to the qualitie and power which they haue of his Maiestie they can well followe and obserue his intent the which more fully to declare his Maiestie hath caused his letters patentes to be dispatched which shall be deliuered them Besides the contentes wherof M. de Guise the gouernour and Lieutenāt generall for his Maiestie in Champaigne and Brye shall call before him the gentlemen of the newe Religion abyding within his gouernement and shal tell them that the Kings will and intent is to preserue them their wyues children and families and to maintaine them in possession of their goods so that on their parte they liue quietly and render to his maiestie obedience and fidelitie as they ought in which doing the King also will defende them that they shall not be molested or troubled by way of Iustice or otherwise in their persons and goods by reason of things done during the troubles before the Edict of Pacificatiō of August 1570. And afterwardes he shal louingly admonish thē to cōtinue no longer in the errour of the new opinions and to returne to the Catholike Religion reconciling themselues to the Catholike Romish Church vnder the doctrine and obedience wherof Kings his predecessors and their subiects haue alwayes holily lyued and this Realme hath bene carefully conducted and mainteyned Shewing too them the mischiefes and calamities which haue happened in this Realme since th◅se newe opinions haue entred intoo mens spirites Howe manye murders haue bene caused by such which haue fallen from the right waye holden by their Auncestors First they made them separate themselues f◅om the churche then from their nex◅e of kinred and also to be estranged from the seruice of their king as a man may see since his raigne And although the authors and heades of that side would haue couered their doings vnder the title of Religion and cōscience yet their deedes and workes haue shewen wel inough that the name of religion was but a visarde to couer their driftes and disobedience and vnder that pretence too assemble and subborne people and too make and compel them to sweare in the cause vnder the title of disobedience and by suche wayes to turne them from the naturall affection whiche they owe to the King and consequently from his obedience being notorious that what commaundement so euer the King could make to them of the newe Religion they haue not since his raigne obeyed him otherwise than pleased their heads And contrariwise when their sayd heads commaunded them to arise and take to their weapons too set vpon Cities to burne churches too sacke and pill to trouble the Realme and fill it with bloud and fire they which went so astray to followe them forget all trust and duetie of good subiects to execute and obey their commaundements VVhich things if the gentlemen wil wel consider they shall easely iudge how vnhappie and miserable their condition shall bee if they continue longer therein For they may well thinke of them selues that the King being taught by experience of so greate a daunger from the which it hath pleased God too preserue him and his estate and hauing proued the mischiefes and calamities which this Realme hath suffered by the enterprises of the heads of this cause their adherentes and complices that he wil neuer willingly bee serued with any gentlemen of his subiects that be of any other religion than the Catholike in the which also the King following his predecessors wil liue and die He willeth also to take away al mistrust amōgst his subiects and to quench the rising of discordes and seditions that all they of whom he is serued in honorable places and specially the gentlemē which desire to be accōpted his good and lawfull subiects and would obtaine his fauour and be employed in charges of his seruice according to their degrees and qualities to make profession hereafter too liue in the same Religion that he doth hauing tryed that discords and ciuil warres will not cease in a state where there be many Religions and that it is not possible for
a King too maintaine in his Realme diuersities in religion but that he shall leese the good will and beneuolence of his subiectes yea and they which are of a contra◅ie Religion to his desire nothing in their hart more than the change of the King and of his estate For the reason abouesayde the Duke of Guise to bring the matter to this passe shall take paines to persuade the nobilitie and others infected with the sayde newe opinion to returne of themselues and of their owne frewil to the Catholike Religion and to abiure and renounce the new without any more expresse commaundement from the king For how so euer it be his maiestie is resolued to make his subiects liue in his Religion and neuer to suffer what so euer may betyde that there shall bee any other forme or exercise of religion in his Realme than the catholike The said Duke of Guise shal cōmunicate with the principal officers and magistrates hauing the principall charge and administration of iustice in cities of his gouernement his Maiesties declaration to the intent they should knowe his minde and the good end wherevnto he tendeth for the vniting and quietnesse of his subiects to the intent the sayde M. de Guise and the sayde officers and Magistrates should with one concorde intelligence and correspondence proceede too the effect abou◅ sayd so that fruit and quietnesse may thereof ensue such as his Maiestie desireth not only for himself but for the whole Realme The Baylifes and stuardes which are not in religiō accordingly qualified shal within one moneth resigne their offices to gentlemen capable and of the qualitie required by the Edict which may keepe and exercise the same And too the intent this should bee done his Maiestie doth nowe presently declare them depriued after the sayde moneth if they do not then resigne that they shall haue no occasion or colour of excuse to delay their resignations and yet permitteth them in the meane whyle to resigne without any fine paying Al Baylifes stuardes shal be resident at their offices vpon paine of losse of the same and if they can not so be then they shal be bound to resigne Al Archbyshops and Bishops shal likewise bee resident in their dioces and such as for age and other disposition of person can not preach the word of God nor edifie the people and do other functio◅s appe◅taining too their charge and dignitie shal be bounde to take a conductor to comfort them and to employ them selues to the duetie of their charge To the which conductour they shal appoint an honest and reasonable pension according to the fruites and r◅uenue of their liuing Also persons and vicars shall be resident at their benefices or else shall bee admonished to resigne them to such as will be resident and doe their duetie Archbyshops and Byshops shal take information of thē which holde abbeyes prioryes and other benefices in their dioces of what qualitie so euer they are and how they do their duetie in the administration of them wherevpon they shall make processe by worde vnto the Gouernours which shal sende them to the King to prouide therin as reason shall moue him They shall c◅pell the curates actually to abide at the places of their benefices or else shal appoint other in their steades according to the disposition of the Canons At Paris the iij. day of Nouember 1572. Signed Charles LETTERS OF M. DE GORDS THE KINGS Lieutenant in Daulphine too certaine of the Religion in his gouernement wherby he exhorteth them too come backe againe too the Religion of Rome and howe the King is determined too suffer none other SIr I am sufficiently aduertised of your behauior but you shuld remember what aduertisements I haue before sent you too returne too the Catholike Religion of your selfe which is the best holde stay that you can chose for your preseruation and health putting frō you all those which persuade you to the contrary who woulde abyde to see any commotion or disorder rather than abate any poynt of their opinion And by this meanes you shall make euident too the King the wil which you say you haue to obey his Maiestie counsailing you for as much as I desire your well doing that this is the best for you to do without loking for any more open commaundemēt otherwise assure your self there can but euil come of it and that his Maiestie would be obeyed And thus I pray God to aduise you and giue you his holye grace From Grenoble the sixt of December 1572. Your entire good friend Gordes THE ANSVVERE OF THE GENTLEMEN Capitaines Burgeses and other being in the towne of Rochell too the commaundementes that haue bene giuen them in the name of the King to receyue garrisons WE the Gentlemen Capitaines Burgeses and other nowe being in this towne of Rochell doe giue answere too you Mounsier N ▪ and to such commaundementes as you giue vs in the name of his Maiestie that wee can not acknowledge that that which is signified vnto vs and the Proclamation which you require that we shuld cause to be published do proceede from his Maiestie And thereof we call to witnesse his Maiestie himself his letters of the. xxij and. xxiiij of August his owne signet and the publishing of the same letters by the which his sayd Maiestie layeth all the fault of all the trouble lately happened and of the cruell slaughter done at Paris vpon those of the house of Guise protesting that he had enough to doe too keepe himselfe safe within his Castell of Louure with those of his Garde And we shall neuer suffer our selues to be persuaded that so foule an enterprise and so barbarous a slaughter hath at any tyme entred into the mind of his Maiestie much lesse that the same hath bene done by his expresse commaundement as the paper importeth which you haue exhibited vnto vs nor that his maiestie hath bene so ill aduised as himself to cut of his owne armes or too d◅sile the sacred wedding of Madame his owne sister with the sheding of so much noble and innocent bloud and with the shame of so cruell a fact to disteine the nation of Fraunce and the bloud royall which hath heretofore euer among all nations borne the name of franke and courteous nor that he hath had minde to deliuer matter to writers to set forth a tragicall historie such as antiquitie hath neuer heard speake of the like and such as posteritie can not reporte without horror But that it was first layd at Rome and afterward hatched at Paris by the authors of all the troubles of Fraunce And howsoeuer it be wee are readie too maintaine that out of the mouth of his Maiestie doth not proceede hote and cold white and black and that he doth not nowe say one thing and by and by an other as he should doe if the paper that you present vnto vs had passed from him protesting that he will inuiolably keepe his Edict and immediatly breaking
sory that your subiects would not perswade themselues of that securitie and peace which they should receiue from you and that they wold not obey you as it became them Truly I protest that there is nothing more gréeuous vnto me than that I cannot be with you and obey and serue you alone as I haue alwaies wished and do also at this present most earnestly desire But I pray and beséech you consider that if spies be dayly sent vnto me to vew my doinges and my house to sée if they can hurt me by any maner of meanes what peace and securitie should I haue if I were with you when my enemy hath in his owne haÌ„d the ordering of your power and authoritie Therfore if it be certaine as I neither ought nor can doubt that it is your will that your Edicts should be obserued and that the publique peace which you haue graunted and confirmed with an othe should also be of all men imbraced but contrary to your highnes pleasure your subiects are cruelly slaine and murthered throughout your whole kyngdome that fréely without redresse Againe if flat against your Maiesties commaundemeÌ„t Leagues be concluded Societies and Fraternities assembled souldiers mustered armour and harnesse made readie money leuied and all other things that belong to open and manifest warre be prepared if for law and Iustice Rapine and iniustice raigne and your Maiesty with contempt of all estates disobeyed and that which is more compelled to violate and breake your publique promise made to all your subiects vppon whom I say shall al these tormoyles be fathered but vpon the Cardinal of Loraine author mainteiner of al dissentions disorders which do so furiously rage thorow all this Realme And although your Maiestie and all those that are not wedded to the Cardinall do know this matter to be so as I haue said yet because it tendeth to the defacing ouerthrow of your graces honour in maintenance wherof I am more earnest because I perceiue the Cardinall hath long ago purposed to ouerthrow it he doth accuse both me and all other of the reformed religion and would with his wiles charge vs with treason and rebellion whereof hée him selfe is guiltie Wherefore séeing we cannot suffer so great iniurie any longer we are determined to dissemble no further in so great and so waightie matters for our longe and almost incredible patience and sufferance of wronges doth but puffe vp the Cardinall and make him to croe ouer vs And therefore to be short I beséeche yeur highnesse to consider what marke he shot at when he hys familie made claime and title to the Dukedome of Aniou and the Countie of Prouance what he ment so curiously to searche out his petigrée whereby he purposed to proue that he was of the bloud Royall of the lawefull Kings of France and that our Auncetours had wrongefully taken the Crowne from his house and vsurped it â–ª likewise I humbly desâ—…re your Grace to marke for what end and purpose they vsed such outrage and tyraÌ„me in the time of King Fraunces the second to destroy raze out the houses of Burbon Momorencie and Chastillon whose destruction they had sworne and vowed long before with al other the Princes and Noble meÌ„ which they thought would set themselues to withstande their wicked attemptes and that this was their intent their dooinges of late sufficiently proued For as soone as it was talked abroad that the Quéen your highnesse mother was not like to liue here any longer foorthwith they tooke counsel and deuised how to murther the Cardinall of Burbon the Chauncelour the Marshalles and diuers other Noble men of your Counsaill and sente moreouer letters thoroughout the whole kingdome too their friendes to raise vp and gather togither souldiers to destroy all such as did in any respect disallow of their dâ—…inges But because this enâ—…prise could not be done vnder pretence of Religion for with that cloake they vse to hide all their mischiefs because they whose bloud they sought professed the same religion that they dyd they deuised a new snare to entray them in and charge them as earnest fauourers of the protestantes therefore to be expedient yea and necessarie to dispatch them out of the way for so might they with lesse laboure destroy the protestantes them selues Wherefore they terme them Neuters and say that they are worse and more hurtfull then the Huguenotes And if so bee the Cardinall could which God forbid bring his purpose to effect both against the princes and Noble men of the reformed religioÌ„ also against them which professe the Romish religion and yet fauour not their procéedings whom they call Neuters because they loue peace and hate trouble and dissention is there any that eyther would or could defend your maiestie from their cruell handes Is there any that could stay them froÌ„ rending your Crown of your Graces head which they say your progenitours haue vsurped vnlawfully against their auncetours Can your Maiestie require a more liuely representation or sufficient proofe of the Cardinals saucie ambitious boldnesse then that he shewed when hée tooke youÌ„r grace and your highnesse mother the Quéen wéeping and lamenting as captiues prisoners with open force of armes from Fountainblean to Melune from thence in tumultuouse hast to Paris and caused your Maiesties entrance into that famouse Citie to bée as dishonorable to your highnesse as it was wont to bée honorable and glorious to your noble progenitours Which his doinges haue ben the onely and true causes of the former wars other dissentions that haue euer since raged thoroughout your Maiesties Realme And may it not be easely proued how gréeuous your graces authoritie hath ben alwaies to the Cardinall and how continuallie he hath repyned at it and done what possible he could to draw your faithfull and loyall subiectes from their duefifull obedience towards your maiestie as may appeare in that his sute wherein he sought too haue Fraunces Duke of Guyse made one of the Princes of the Empire and got for that purpose a warrant froÌ„ the Emperour which he would haue proclaimed thorough all your Kingdome had not Monsieur Ausant Monsieur Halsede staied him who although they wer of one religion with him yet could they no longer dissemble or see so great inâ—…urie done to youre highnesse as though your maiestie could not protecte and defendea Cardinall as well as other your subiectes vnlesse heâ—… fled to the Emperour for succour by whom or of whom he hath I am sure nothing vnlesse it be a cankred Imperiall and not a true French hart towardes your maiestie whereof he gaue sufficient profe in the Councell of Trent where in stéede that according to his duetie he ought to haue kept and mainteined those prerogatiues that tyme out of mind haue ben giuen and graunted to the Kings of Fraunce your auncetours He I saye in steed of this his loyall duetie called them in doubt and question séeking by all meanes
to chalenge and claymâ—… them for the Spanish king Wherein hée hath both done great iniurie to your maiestie and the wole kingdome and also sought thereby to bring your Grace in feare and to stand in awe of him by reason he is in such fauor and estimation with the king of Spayne to whom he coÌ„municateth all the affaires of this realme There was neuer any deuise inuented or practised neither in the first or second warres whereof Kinge Phillip hath not ben both an authour and fautour whose chief desire is to sée the greatest part of your Nobilitie destroyed that he might the easier conquer your kingdome For surely there is no more effectuall meanes to bring that his purpose to passe then to set vs togither by the eares by sowing of strife and dissention And to what other endâ—…â—…an those Confraternities and brother hoodes as they call them of the Holy Goste bee referred then to this For some of the Noble men which are admitted into that fellowship are so wedded vnto it that they vtterly forget their dutie and doo conspire with them the death of such noble men as professe the reformed religioÌ„ whose desire is to liue quietly with them in the bande of brotherly loue as becometh good subiects vnder one prince and friends alied togither either in kinred or affinitie And who I beséeche your maiestie hath ben the author of these holy brotherhoods but the Cardinall who hath promised to procure your warrant for them notwithstanding your highnesse hath declared them to be hurtefull and preiudiciall to your honour and therefore to be disallowed And what shall we thinke of his sendinge abroad through all the whole kingdome wherin he willed that no maÌ„ should either giue credit to or obey your Maiesties commaundements vnlesse the letters which were sent were signed with speciall signet and surely through this his dooing no commission that euer came out from your grace for the obseruation of the Edicte was in any poinct obeyed and executed so that we may both iustly and truly say that he none but he hath ben auctour of these broyles and tumultes Furthermore who did hinder the publishing of the Edict and who doth stâ—…y the execution of it who emboldened the Parliament of Tolouze to rage so tyrannically as they dyd And who but he and his confederates hath driuen your Maiestie into such streight distresse that you are compelled to violate your publique promise made and solemlie confirmed by othe and thereby to haue your credit and honor crackt amongst all forreyne nations yea we are able to proue how he himselfe wrote letters to your Maiesties mother and had the Aâ—…males hand subscribed vnto them letting hiâ—… to vnderstaÌ„d that he could not staye the conclusion of the peace whereto necessitie drane them notwithstaÌ„ding he would so work that it should neuer be kept By whose meanes is iustice equitie banished out of this realme and most fiâ—…thy and dissolute libertie of factions and seditions brought in with all kinde of trayterous murthering of those that will not yéeld to their tyrannie Who is it that sendeth ruffians and desperat persons euery day yea eueÌ„ home to my owne house to murther both me and the Admirall and this haue two whom I haue taken confessed Who entised certaine Knights of S. Michaels order other Captaines to murther the Admirall who God be thanked had warninge geuen by them that should haue done the deed Who procured Monsieur Sipierre to â—…e slaine and to the number of fiue and thirtie Noble men with him but he For his Brother the Duke of Guise would commonly boaste of it a moneth and more before it was done and being done he himselfe had the first tydings of it Yea who but he or his men flue Monsieur Amanze sitting at his owne doore with his younge daughter in his armes who had offended neyther part but liued quietly with all men of both Religions Neuerthelesse when his Nephew the Duke of Lorayn had aduertised him that it were expedient for him that hée absented himselfe from your Grace because many dyd beare him deadly hatred because he ruling al things at his owne pleasure should be charged as authour and causer of al the troubles and miseries that had or shold endammage the common weale of the kingdome Hée made him aunswere That he ruled not at all and that he made not his aboad with your Maiestie but because he did not knowe any other place wherein hee could bée more safe and frâ—…e from daunger Whereby it is euidâ—…nt that for his â—…uegard onely your highnesse Armie is maintaynâ—… tâ—… your excéeding great charges whiche must néedes bring with it a very daungerous and mischéeuous end For if so be the sauetie and strength of a king doth consist vppon the good will and loue of his â—…ub â—…ectes what cause can be inuented whereby hée shoulde enforce your Maiestie to take armour against those whose onely desire is to shewe the liege and loyall obedience they owe to your maiestie But he thinkes the pretence and shew of your name and aucthoritie sufficient to hide and cloake his mischeuous doinges in so much he spared not of late to saye that your highnesse gaue him this answere That shortly men would haue gathered in their hay and corne and haue made an end of their vinetage that the Riuers would be so highe with showers of raine that men could not passe ouer the sayd Riuers that your treasurie should shortly bee enriched with tributes and that then warre should bée proclaymed against those of the reformed religion but in the meane tyme the chief maintainers thereof were to be dispatcht out of the way Yea such is the impudeÌ„cie of the man that he is not ashamed to bragge that the Quéene hath complayning wise found faulte with him That their purpose of our destructioÌ„ was not brought to effect notwithstaÌ„ding the feast of San Ian was past in which tyme he had promised to rid the greatest parte of vs out of the way And as yet none were dispatched but onely Monsieur Sipierre whereunto hée made answere That he had done the best he could to kéepe promise but all would not serue because the Noble men were alwayes spéedely enformed of al his deuises notwithstanding he was in good hope to compasse the matter and in the meane season it was expedient that your maiestie O Christian king should féed vs with vayne hope and gentle letters till they might spye out fit occasion and oportunitie to accomplishe their desires And what other can your grace conceiue of that suÌ„me of money whiche they procured Ian Baptist to sende to you was not the vsurie beyond all reason to giue a hundreth for an hundreth do they not by this their money shewe what good will and loue they beare your highnesse wherefore can any man say that we of the reformed Religion do without vrgent and great cause assaulte the Cardinall of Loraine howe long shall he with subtill trecheries abuse your