by no other way but by Arguments Into Scotland were sent three Sorbon Doctors with the Bishop of Amiens But with what safety might any Man dispute with them when he that did so was in the midst of his armed Enemies and there was greatest fear of violence from the Disputers themselves For the Bishop of Amiens counselled the Queen Regent that if any there were which should be found to dispute against the Romish Decrees he should be put to death yea even those who but seemed to be of another Mind only We are not informed that the Queen Regent put in practice the foregoing counsels perhaps the time was not altogether seasonable nor do we take every single action which might conduce to the subverting of Religion to be a Conspiracy but we may well esteem by the Queens Words the Councellors and Commanders Intents and Purposes the placing of such a Regent all this to be a continued Conspiracy to strangle in the birth the Church of Scotland having yet scarcely taken breath in the World Not long after the Queen Regent dyeth and although it will perhaps be said there was no discovery of any Conspiracy which was in acting as to put to death all the Nobility or all that would dare dispute against the Bishop or Doctors could be no easy task to go about the latter because the death of their last Martyr Walter Mille did seem so grevious unto them and if any more should suffer how would such a thing be taken by French-men People of another Nation It may be objected from the above named Arguments that there wanted no endeavour After the death of the Mother the Daughter returning into Scotland was married unto Henry Lord Darnley who being of the same Religion with the Queen and they both a Brothers and Sisters Children did strongly maintain Popery against the Protestant Religion We cannot imagine here that any thing should be contrived against the lives of those Princes by a Popish Party to overthrow Religion For to subvert Religion no way could be found better than by maintaining in life and honour such Princes as these two were who professed and maintained Popery as contrarily to subvert Religion Laws Liberties and the like the best means are through the sides of such Kings and Queens as are Projectors and Maintainers of them So the holy Scripture declareth by Word and Example I will smite the Shepheard and the Sheep shall be scattered For this Queen was so far from furthering the establishment of Religion nay from connivence at those who should go about any such matter that she professed she would follow the example of her Cousin Queen Mary of England which was no other thing than maintaining in her Dominions the Pope and Popery and punishing the contrary minded as Hereticks It will not be thought I suppose that either the Papists at home in Scotland or those in France or elsewhere would go about to take away the lives of such Princes whose lives secured their Religion For what was attempted against the Life and most unhappily succeeded of the King was not any way to subvert Popery because the deed was committed and the Plot chiefly laid by Papists It rather was undertaken against the Life of this Prince by some to make way for their own Family to inherit the Crown of Scotland by others to get the Kingdom and admit any Religion But those that look farther into Matters judg this act to be committed against a Professor of the Romish Religion that he being taken out of the way another might succeed which had greater Power and Friends to bring to pass what King Henry the Queens Husband had a Mind but not Power enough to do And that made those who were no Enemies to the King in point of Religion not dislike the Treason for the Ends sake I cannot be of their Minds altogether who judg that of the Queen of Scots being now in restraint in England not long before married to Earl Bothwell and presently to desire a Devorce from him and to require that he should be summoned within the space of a very few days to return into the Kingdom to make answer and defence to the Queens Suit of Divorce to have proceeded from the changing Fancy of the Queen not so much from Conscience For it was as well known before her departure into England as after that Earl Bothwell had a Wife living when he married the Queen insomuch that at the publishing the banes of their Matrimony one stood up in the Church and forbad them It was generally thought that it was that a way might be open for the Duke of Norfolk who then made Suit unto her He indeed was such a Man as being of great Wealth mighty in Friends and singular Abilities of Mind could better bring about what was desired than a Man of no great riches at any time but was now in extream Poverty and Disgrace in the Dominions of the King of Denmark and notoriously infamous for his Crimes in Sctoland The Rebellion of the Earls of Northumberland and Westmerland AT this time the King of Spain wrote unto the Duke of Norfolk to join with the Earls of Northumberland and Westmerland to riase a Rebellion in England and to the Earl of Ormond to do the like in Ireland These Letters were shown unto Queen Elizabeth by the Duke and the Earl that from hence at least might appear their Loyalty Nevertheless whether by the advice of the Bishop of Rost who lay as Ambassdor at London for the Queen of Scots and one Rodolf a Florentine going in the appearance of a Merchant Factor or purposing of himself whatsoever he might pretend he privately sought to marry the Queen of Scots she being next Heir to the Crown of England contrary to his Promise made unto his Sovereign Queen Elizabeth The Queen of Scots and the Duke participate of one anothers Mind by Letters written in hidden Characters Neither was this a matter only supposed but the Dukes Secretary one Higford who was commanded by the Duke to burn such Letters as came from the Queen of Scots but did it not and hid them under a Mat in his Chamber and being under examination he caused them to be produced This was when the two Earls of Northumberland and Westmerland had secretly complotted to raise Arms and not long after the Dukes apprehension they fell into open Rebellion One of the Letters which was shewn at the Dukes arraignment was to this purpose That the Queen was sorry that the said Earls of Northumberland and Westmerland were in Arms before the Dukes Forces were ready This was undertaken after that Pope Pius Quintus had in Bulls from Rome printed and sent to Rodolf absolved Queen Elizabeths Subjects from their Allegiance The Pope perswaded the Spaniard to assist the Conspirators that his affairs in the Netherlands might prosper the better and the French did the like that the Queen of England might be less able to send aid to the Protestants
in France Northumberland and Westmerland having thus taken Arms Supplies and Moneys failing withdrew themselves into Scotland Norfolk was thrown into Prison Rodulf being in Custody for whom the Pope had appointed 150000 Crowns to help the Conspirators was for want of clear proof dismissed Rodolf being got out of Prison afterward distributeth the 150000 Crowns to the Partners in the Treason He being with the Pope is sent by him to the Spaniard to press him to give assistance to the King of Protugal also for the same purpose He wrote also to the Duke of Norfolk promising to send him aid The Popes Letter to the Spaniard was That he should send an Army out of the Low-Countries to invade England And this very thing the Spaniard endeavoured There was now a difference betwixt Queen Elizabeth and the Spaniard about Money sent by him to the Duke of Alva but was intercepted by the Queen and that was one pretence that the Spaniard had for his dealing agianst our Queen and Kingdom But the Duke of Norfolk was put to death Nor is this the Relation of an English Protenstant but of a Papist a good part whereof had not been known but for him one Hieronimus Calena The Book was printed at Rome by the priviledg of Pius Quintus 1588. The Earls of Northumberland and Westmerland seduced by one Morton a Priest and at Duresine set up the Mass thence they marched to Clifford-moore where hearing that the Queen of Scots was removed to Coventry that the Earl of sussex was sent with strong Forces against them and that Sir George Bowes was behind them and had fortified Bernards Castle that Scroupe and Cumberland had fortified Carlile and had also an Army in readiness that the Souldiers of Barwick and the power of Northumberland were in New-castle besieged Bernards Casle and took it on Conditions Then for fear of the Earl of Sussex they fled to Hexam thence by by-ways to Naworth Castle from that place into Scotland and from thence was Northumberland sent and here beheaded Westmerland escaped into the Netherlands where with a poor pension under the Spaniard he lived poorly all his Days Dacres his endeavour to deliver the Scots Queen IN the Year 1569 Leonard Dacres second Son of William Lord Dacres of Gillesland being grieved to see a very great Patrimony go from him to the Daughters of the Baron whom the Duke of Norsolk their Father-in-Law had joined in marriage with his Sons grew revengeful and joining with the Rebels endeavoured to deliver the Queen of Scots yet a little before being at the Court promised to assist the Queen his Soveraign agianst the Rebels but treacherously he undertook to kill the Lord Scroup and Bishop of Carlisle to whose custody the Scottish Queen was committed but he failing in the performance took Grastock Castle holding it as his own aud gathered Soldiers The Lord Hunsdon met him with the trained Souldiers of Barwick and after a sharp conflict overcometh him and Dacres fled into Scotland from thence into the Netherlands where at Lovaine he lived and died poorly Fitz-Morris raiseth Rebellion in Ireland IN this Year Edmund and Peter Butler Brethren to the Earl of Ormond joining with James Fitz-Morris of the House of Desmond entred into a Conspiracy against Queen Elizabeth and to further it came Joannes Mendoza secretly out of Spain The Earl of Ormond going into Ireland caused them to submit they were imprisoned and for their Brother the Earl sake not brought to Tryal The Lord Deputy and Sir Humphry Gilbert through Gods assistance appeased that rebellion It is clear enough that this Rebellion in Ireland arose from the Spaniard as the first mover for to this end he sent Mendoza into Ireland and had not long before written to the Earl Brother to the two Rebels to raise a Rebellion in Ireland Stanleys Conspiracy IN the Year 1570 under a colour of delivering the Queen of Scots Thomas Stanly and Edward younger Sons of the Earl of Darby Thomas Jerard Rolston Hall with others in Darby shire conspired but the Son of Rolston which was Pensioner to the Queen disclosed the Conspiracy All but Hall were imprisoned Hall escaped into the Isle of Man thence by the commendation of the Bishop of Ross he was sent into Dunbritan whence the Castle being won he was brought to London and suffered Death Dissimulation of Don John of Austria IN the Year 1576 Don John of Austria coming into the Low-Countries as Governour sent Gastellus to Queen Elizabeth pretending a perpetual Edict for Peace The Queen as if ignorant of any bad intent sent Rogers to congratulate John's Edict yet she knew that Don John had conceived a certain hope marrying the Queen of Scots and of enjoying Scotland and England intending to invade the lsle of Man that from thence he might out of Ireland the North of England and Scotland also where he knew were many Papists invade England This Man to help forward this great design practised secretly with the Pope and with the King of Spain for the Havens of Biscay But the King of Spain neglected him in this desire accounting England and Scotland a Morsel litter for his own Palate During this Treaty of perpetual Peace this treacherous Don treateth secretly with the Scottish Queen about the Marriage and the better to work his own ends took divers Towns and Castles in the Low-Countries by treachery and wrote into Spain that for the invasion of the Netherlands it would be best to seize on first the Towns of Zealand before the more inland places and that England might with the more ease be first invaded The Queen in the mean while prepareth for War but God cut off this her Enemy very suddenly before the fruits of his high thoughts were ripe Stucley's design against Ireland NOt Long before this time in Ireland Thomas Stucley a prodigal riotous and needy English man discontented for that he lost the Stewardship of Wexford breaths out Contumelies against the Queen and betaketh himself to the Pope with whom he treateth and boasteth that he will subdue Ireland with 3000 Men and burn the Queen's Navy Pope Pius Quintus had a great opinion of him After him Gregory the 13 and the King of Spain consulted together to invade England and Ireland at once The Pope aimed to get for his Son James Boncompayno the Kingdom of Ireland and the Spaniard chiefly to imitate the course of Queen Elizabeth who to keep the Spaniard busy abroad secretly sent aid to the Dutch that he might with draw her help from the Low-Countries But because the strength of England consisteth chiefly in the Navy the King of Spain seâ—teth the Merchants of Italy and the Netherlands a work to hire the Merchants ships of England and so to send them away in very long Voyages that the Ships being from home and Stucley joining with the Rebels of Ireland the Queen's Navy might be overthrown by a greater The Pope gave him very great Title in Ireland and sent
divers Men have one Name We will acknowledg Hypocrites among them but because one is such no Man will conclude they must be all so No Man of us almost abhorreth the Name of Protestant to be given him and yet of these some will Lie others will Steal and a third sort will do worse Since this Parliament perhaps I imagine the time and reason aright the Jesuites and Jesuited have invented a strange Name for such Men and let fall the râ—â—roach of Puritan They call them by a figurative Name which is ignorantly spoken by most falsly by all and as the roundest Figure is of the largest Capacity so they have shaped them a Name which is larger than Precisian Brownist or the like surroundeth every one that thinketh it not a just thing to rail against the Parliament to curse the Fathers of his Country But I desire not to be called but to be toâ—us terres atque rotundus So much by the way to fall upon the business now The King of Spain offereth Marriage to the Queen AT the beginning of the raign of Queen Elizabeth Philip the second of Spain sought to win her to him by Marriage not doubting to procure a Dispensation for the Incest but was as wisely answered as he wickedly and craftily intended that the Queen could not so soon forget her Sisters death she knowing it to be a part of discretion to keep in hope so potent an Adversary if he should be incensed by a denial her own Kingdom by reason of the change of Religion and the depriving of many Popish Bishops which the blinded People had in some esteem among many other alterations being of doubtful Affections till she could better provide for her own Security The Spaniard in the mean time perceived that his suit was not like to succeed when the thought of uniting England to Spain by the Marriage of Queen Elizabeth if like her Sister Mary she proved not barren was taken away he took hold on the next occasion The practice of the Guises with the Queen of Scots against England MAry now Queen of Scots Daughter and Heir apparent unto James the fifth and Wife unto Francis Dauphine of France Daughter of Mary of Lorrain who was Sister unto the Duke of Guise She after the death of Queen Mary of England being incouraged thereunto by the Guises her Uncles usurpeth the Arms of England uniting them to the Arms of Scotland on her Plate in the Windows of her House and on her Servants Coats declaring her self thereby Queen of England Her meaning was well understood and this it is very probable in the fourth year of Queen Elizabeth made Arthur Poole and his Brethren descended of George Duke of Clarence Brother to Edward the fourth and Anthony Fortescue their Brother-in-Law with their Confederates to conspire secretly to fly unto the Guises in France and thence and with their help to come with an Army into Wales and there to proclaim the Queen of Scots Queen of England and Arthur Poole Duke of Clarence God was pleased in a very good time to discover this Plot. For had they gone thither and discovered their intents it had if God had not powerfully opposed it not only animated the Guises to have seconded them and furnished them with Men and Money but having returned into Wales they would have gathered great Forces to augment their Numbers and put the Queen to the incomparable Trouble and Danger of a Civil War Beside all this she had at this time on every side Enemies abroad the French King the King of Spain the Guisian and Popish Faction in Scotland The Loyal People of Scotland were so unable to help her that they stood in need of her help The Low-Countries were under Spanish Tyranny and a convenient place from whence to annoy this Kingdom The Conspirators confessed that they did not intend to put in practise this thing during the Life of our Queen for indeed they were made believe by Predictions of Popish Astrologians that Queen Elizabeth could not live above one year The good Queen notwithstanding pardoned their Lives after Sentence of Death upon them from their own Confession And how zealously the Guises endeavoured to invade England may appear by the inclination of Sebastian Martigius sent into Scotland by the counsel of the Guises for about those times their alone Counsels were principally followed with Horse and Foot to assist in the Civil War of Scotland who could hardly be restrained from invading England presently and first of all presuming no question on the aid of Papists in England from intelligence held with them here For otherwise what could 1000 Horse and not very many Foot do in respect of conquering all England Now was the Queen of Scots in France and although the Regency of Scotland was put into the hands of the Marquiss of Hamilton yet the power of the Queen Dowager with her French Faction did so increase and on the other side the authority of the Marquiss Regent so abate that after the promise from the French King of 12000 Crowns by the Year and Dutchy of Castle-Herald to which was added the preferment of all the Marquiss's chief kindred the Marquiss resigned his place into the hands of Mary of Lorrain Queen Dowager a thing for a Woman to be Regent in Scotland but once before known She had made many promises unto the Scots of the freedom of exercising the Protestant Religion but being now setled in the Regency she discovered her mind wholly bent to alter Religion She told her Friends in plain terms that though the Ministers whom she named should preach more honestly or as she called it more sincerely than they had done yet they should all be banished She expressed at the death of a young Man whom she seemed to bewail being slain for that his Father had not rather excused him being a stout defender of the reformed Religion that she was cruelly minded towards the Professors thereof Easter also was commanded to be celebrated after the Romish Custom For these and divers other of her overtures Messengers were sent unto her to desire her to be good to the Protestants and to remember the many Promises she had made unto them to that end But all in vain She told the Earl of Glencarn and Sir John Campbel who were sent unto her That performance of Promises was to be expected from Princes no farther than stood with their profit Upon this they told one another that they then renounced all Obedience and Duty toward her Violence now with Art was to be used for effecting her Purpose touching Religion Hereupon advice was given by Labrosse a French Commander in Scotland to put to death all the Nobility of Scotland for that the People being bereaved of their Heads would after be easily brought to undergo any Yoak but that things might appear with a more pleasing Colour there was a shew as if the Queen had laboured and would endeavour to convince her Adversaries in Religion
and spoileth the Country upon which the Rebels make haste to come in unto the Deputy and Tyrone beggeth pardon upon his Knees From Dublin Tyrone should have been carried into England but the Queens death-hindred that and King James pardoned him Afterward he entred into another Conspiracy with O Cane but being sent for with a Process to answer a suit which the Bishop of Derry had against him and fearing he had bin sent for for his Conspiracy he sled out of Ireland Garnet Catesby and others labour to invade England IN the last Year of Queen Elizabeth there was a Plot layed against her by Garnet Catesby and others that the Spaniard should join with the Papists here in the Invasion of England Winter was sent into Spain for that purpose and Creswel the the Leger Jesuite in Spain Don Pedro Francisco second Secretary of State and the Duke of Lerma assured Winter that his Message would be very acceptable to the King of Spain Then had Winter an answer by Count Mirands that the King would bestow 100000 Crowns towards the expedition and at the next Spring at farthest would set his Foot in England Winter returneth and acquainteth Garnet Catesby and Trâ—sham with all and they others but before the next Spring the Queen died The Gun-Powder Treason AT the Queens death Christopher Wright was sent into Spain and Guy Fauks also from Brussels by Sir William Stanley to advertise them there that King James was as violent against the Catholicks as Queen Elizabeth and therefore urged the Spaniard to prosecute the old design The Jesuits privately suggested that they should not admit him into England as being an Heretick Catesby hâ—ld that the King being an Heretick forseiteth his Kingdom before â—â—y sentence pronounced The Parliament was dissolved the 7th of July which the King held and prorogued till the 7th of February Catesby at Lambeth broke with Winter about blowing up the Parliament House Winter told him that it struck at the root but what if it should not take effect Catesby won Winter to consent but first said be go over and win the Constable to obtain more favour for Catholicks and if you may bring over some confident Gentlemen as Mr. Faux Winter went met with the Constable at Bergen and delivered his Message The Constable answered that his Master commanded him to do all good offices for the Catholicks but he shewed the Constable nothing of the matter Faux and Winter came both into England This plot of blowing up the Parliament House after an Oath of Secreoy and the Sacrament received upon it Catesby disclosed it to Percy and Winter and Wright to Faux Percy hired the House Faxn was pretended to be Percy 's Man and names himself Johnson and kept the Keys of the House till the adjournment of the Parliament at which time all the Conspirators departed into the Country A House was hired at Lambeth by Percy to keep the Powder and Wood for the Mine to which it was to be conveyed When the Plot had taken effect what should they do Percy with two or three of them with a dozen more would seize on the Duke and carry him away The Lady Elizabeth was to be surprized at a hunting near the Lord Harringâ—ons They would save from the Parliament first Catholicks then some particular Persons While they wrought in the Mine they fed on baked Meats that they might not go forth At Candlemas the Powder is brought over about which time working in the Mine they came against a Stone-wall when hearing a rushing noise of Coals they seared they were discovered But it was only the moving of Coals to be sold which Celler Faux hired 20 Barrels of Powder they had provided which they hid with Billets and Fagots Faux went into Flanders to acquaint therewith Stanley and Owen Stanley was not there Owen approved it Percy and Catesby met at the Bath and it was agreed that Catesby should call in whom he thought best The number being small He called in Sir Everard Digby and afterward Mr. Tresham The Parliament was a-new prorogued till the 5th of November Then the Conspirators all went into the Country and returned 10 days before the Parliament and hearing that the Prince would be absent from the Parliament said they would then seize on the Prince and let alone the Duke Saturday before the Kings return which was on Thursday a Letter in the Street was delivered to the Lord Mounteagle's Man to put it into his Masters Hand It had neither Date nor Superscription and by the Lord Mounteagle was that Night sent to the Earl of Salisbury who made acquainted with it the Lord Chemberlain the Lord Admiral the Earl of Worcester and Northampton The Letter was this My Lord OVt of the love I bear to some of your Friends I have a care of your preservation Therefore I would advise you as you tender your Life to devise some Excuse to shift off your attendance at this Parliament For God and Man have concurred to punish the wickedness of this Time And think not slightly of this Advertisement but retire your self into your Country where you may expect the event in safety For though there be no appearance of any storme yet I say they shall receive a terrible Blow this Parliament and yet they shall not see who hurt them This counsel is not to be contemned because it may do you good and can do you no harm for the danger is past so soon as you shall have burned this Letter and I hope God will give you the grace to make a good use of it to whose holy protection I recommend you Friday following the King read it who considering the Sentence therein expressed that they should receive a terrible blow this Parliament and yet should not know who hurt them and joining it to the Sentence for the danger is past so soon as you shall have burn'd this Letter did suspect the danger mentioned to be some sudden danger of blowing up with Powder Afterward it was determined the Lord Chamberlain should view both above and beneath the Parliament Houses Which the Lord Chamberlain having done sound in a Vault under the upper House great store of Billets Faggots and Coals and casting his Eye aside a Fellow standing by which called himself Percy 's Man that had hired the Celler The King supposing that Gun-Powder might be hid under that Wood and Coals caused a further search to be made Whereupon Sir Thomas Knevet went about the Parliament House with a small number to search more narrowly the Mid-night next after where he found Faux standing without Doors booted and spurr'd and apprehended him then in search under the Wood and Coals 36 Barrels of Gun-Powder and about the Traitor three Matches and other Instruments fit for that wicked purpose were found which wicked intent of blowing up the House he instantly confessed affirming that if he had been in the House he would not have failed to blow up both himself and them
of Navarre a Noble and Pious Prince of the Religion and the King's Sister by which snare to bring the said Prince the Admiral and the rest of the Heads of Religion to the Court and City of Paris that so these Heads being first smiten off the inferiour Members thereof might the more easily be destroyed Under this colour I say the King invites the Admiral to the Court at Paris pretends a fair Correspondence and Agreement of all matters in Difference betwixt his Majesty and those of the Religion especially himself and the Admiral and a Reconcilement also between this noble Admiral and the Duke of Guise In which interim one Lignerolles a French Gentleman was openly slain in the Court for discovering some secrets concerning this Plot against those of the Religion and the Cardinal of Chastillon then in England and ready to depart thence for France Brother to the Admiral of France was poisoned by one of the Chamberlains and died thereof to the great grief of all his Friends and Servants The most Noble and Religious Admiral on the King's Invitation comes to Paris was with extraordinary fair shows of love and regal respect most welcomely entertained both he and divers others of the Religion that came with him The foresaid Marriage was not long after Solemnized in Paris with great pretences of joy and content on all sides expressed in most sumptuous and liberal Feasts and Banquets Masks and Dances the sweet innocent Princes little dreaming of such a Dance to be now a leading by the King Queen-Mother and Duke of Guise with the rest of the Romish bloody Faction as stain'd nay steep'd all their dainties in streams of their Hearts-blood in so much as 't was admired to see such a seeming friendly mixture of those of the Religion with the Romish Catholicks just like so many Lambs among so many greedy Wolves Now whilst every one imployed himself in such like Mirth and Jollity divers that were sent for by the King Queen-Mother and Duke of Guise that so they might be sure to be the stronger party spèedily arrived in Paris the Catastrophe of all that follows having been made not long before among them the Dukes of Guise and Anjou being the principal Actors openly seen in this wicked Work who resolved not to let the Admiral depart out of Paris but there to dispatch him and all such as should endeavour to defend him Now it so fell out that one Morning the Admiral coming out of the Loutre and going to Dine at his Lodging being on foot and without least suspicion of any Villany to be attempted against him as he was reading a Petition one shot at him with a Harquebuss the Bullet whereof took away the Fore-finger of his Right-hand and hurt him in the left Arm the Villain that shot escaped by flight a Horse standing ready to post him away after he had done the deed The noble Admiral being thereupon brought to his Lodging shewed mòst singular Piety Constancy and Patience under his Surgeons hands was visited by divers Lords and Gentlemen of the Religion the King of Navarre now the King of France his Brother in-Law and the Prince of Conde The French King also though a main Plotter in the work craftily complained to these Princes of the Mischief thus happened protesting his sorrow and swearing revenge and severe execution of Justice on the Offender whosoever he were The King himself also went to visit the Admiral making many serious and deep protestations of his high esteem of his loyalty and fidelity to his Person and Crown always and that he held and esteèmed him a most discret and valiant Commander in Arms and that therefore he much respected him with many such like French Complements Immediately after the King's departure the King of Navarre and the Prince of Conde were certainly but very secretly enformed of the intended Massacre on all of the Religion and advised as speedily as they could to get out of Paris and to be assured that that blow given to the Admiral was but the beginning of the Tragedy but alas good Princes they so much confided on the King's Vows and Promises that they reject this Advise and Counsel and staied there still About Saturday-evening being the 23d of August 1572. certain Protestant Gentlemen offered themselves to watch that Night with the good Admiral but Teligny his Son-in-Law would not suffer them but dismissed them with many thanks little suspecting still any approaching or precipitating danger on his Father Night being come on the Duke of Guises Lieutenant in this Action which now at this present was to be declared to the Duke of Anjou sent for all the Captains of the Switzers and companies of Strangers which still increased into the Town shewing them his Commission to kill the Admiral and all his partakers exhorting them to be couragious in shedding of Blood and making Spoil of them and appointed their Troops to be placed where he thought meetest About Midnight it was informed to all the Popish Assemblies in the Town That the like to this Massacre should be done to all of the Religion throughout the whole Realm and that the Watch-word of the general Massacre should be the great Bell of the Palace which should be rung at the break of Day and the Badg of the Executioners should be a white Handkerchief tied upon their sleeves and a white Cross in their Hats The Duke of Guise with his bloody-minded Associates had charge to begin at the Admiral 's Lodgings The mighty noise of Armour and running up and down with very many lighted Torches soon after Midnight made many of those of the Religion that were longed near the Admiral to come out of their Lodgings and to go into the Street to enquire of their Acquaintances what this noise meant at such an undue Hour but being anxiously answered they went on still toward the Louvre where the Duke of Guise and his bloody Comrades were attending the deed where those innocent Lambs of the Religion were first set upon and assaulted by the Duke's guard Then presently they rang St. Germaines Bell in the Palace whereupon one Cosseins a French Fury perceiving the Duke of Guise coming with his Troops knocks at the Admirals Gate between two and three of the Clock in the Morning being Sunday the 24th of August 1572. La-bonne one of the Admiral 's attendants opens the Gate and was instantly stabb'd by Cosseins the second Door going up the Stairs being soon burst open they came to the Admiral 's Chamber where his own Guard of Switzers were one of them was slain with an Harquebuss And while Cosseins was jumbling at the Chamber-door one Cornatan ran up into the Chamber and being asked by the Admiral who had caused his Men to life him out of his Bed and in his Night gown having assisted his Ministers in servent Prayer and most humbly commended his Soul to his Saviour Christ Jesus what all this hurly burly meant Cornatan his Servant answered My