Now was the Queen of Scots in France and although the Regency of Scotland was put into the hands of the Marquesse of Hamilion yet the power of the Qu. Dowager with her French faction did so increase and on the other side the authority of the Marquesse Regent so abate that after the promise from the French King of 12000. crowns by the yeare and Duchy of Castle Herald to which was added the preferment of all the Marquesses chiefe kindred the Marquesse resigned his place into the hands of Mary of Loraigne Qu. 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 freedome 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 tearmes that though the Ministers whom she named should preach more honestly or as she called it more sincerely then they had done yet they should all be banished She expressed at the death of a young-man whom she seemed to bewaile being slain for that his father had not rather excused him being a stout defender of the reformed Religion that she was cruelly minded toward the Professours thereof Easter also was commanded to be celebrated after the Romish custome For these and divers other overtures of her 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 vaine She told the Earle of Glencarne and Sir John Cambell who were sent unto her that performance of promises was to be expected from Princes no farther then 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 yoake but that things might appeare with a more pleasing colour there was a shew as if the Queen had laboured and would endeavour to convince her adversaries in Religion by no other way but by arguments Into Scotland were sent 3. Sorbon Doctours 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 feare 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 these 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 Qu. Regent put in practice the fore-going counsels perhaps the time was not altogether seasonable nor doe 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 Counsellours 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 Qu. 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 easie taske to goe about the latter because the death of their last Martyr Walter Mille did seem so grievous 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 then 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 thorough 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 sheepe shall be scattered For this Queen was so far from furthering the establishment of Religion nay from connivence at those who should goe about any such matter that she professed that she would follow the example of her cousin Qu. Mary of England which was no other thing then 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 els where 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 layed by Papists It rather was undertaken against the life of this Prince by some to make way for their own family to inherit the Crowne of Scotland by others to get the Kingdome and admit any Religion But those which look farther into matters judge this act to be committed against a Professour of the Romish Religion that he being taken out of the way another might succeed which had greater power and friends to bring to passe what K. Henry the Queens husband had a mind but not power enough to do And that made those which 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 judge that of the Queen of Scots being now in restraint in England not long before married to Earle Bothnile and presently to desire a divorce 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 Earle Bothnile had a wife living when he married the Queen in so much that at the publishing of 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 then a man of no great riches at any time but was now in extreme poverty and disgrace in the Dominions of the King of Denmark and notoriously infamous for his crimes in Scotland The Rebellion of the Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland AT this time the King of Spaine wrote unto the Duke of Norfolk to joyn with the Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland to raise a Rebellion in England and to the Earle of Ormond to do the like in Ireland These Letters were shewen unto Qu. Elizabeth by the Duke and the Earle that from hence at least might appeare their loyalty Neverthelesse whether by the advice of the Bishop of Rosse who lay as Ambassadour at London for the Queen of Scots and one Rodolf a Florentine going in the appearance of a Merchant factor or purposing of himselfe whatsoever he might pretend he privately sought to marry the Q. of Scots she being next heir to the Crown of England contrary to his promise made unto his Soveraign Q. Elizabeth The Q. 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 Hieford who was commanded by the Duke to burne such Letters as came from the Qu. of Scots but did it not and hid them under a mat in his chamber and being under examination he caused them to be reduced This was when the two Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland had secretly complotted to raise Armes and not long after the Dukes apprehension they fell into open Rebellion One of the Letters which was shewen at the Dukes arraignment was to this purpose That the Qu. was sorry that the said Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland were in Armes before the Dukes forces were ready This was undertaken after that Pope Pius quintus had in Bulls from Rome printed and sent to Ridolf absolved Q. Elizabeths Subjects from their allegiance The Pope perswaded the Spaniard to assist the conspiratours that his affairs in the Netherlands might prosper the better and the French did the like that the Qu. of England might be lesse able to send aid to the Protestants in France Northumberland and Westmerland having thus taken Armes supplies and monies failing withdrew themselves into Scotland Norfolk was thrown into prison Ridolf being in custody for whom the Pope had appointed 150000 crowns to the partners in the Treason He being with the Pope is sent by him to the Spaniard to presse him to give assistance to the King of Portugall 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 Q Elizabeth and the Spaniard about mony 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 against our Queen and Kingdome But the Duke of Norfolk was put to death Nor is this the Relation of an English Protestant but of a Papist a good part whereof had not bin knowne but for him one Hieronimus Calena The Book was printed at Rome by the priviledge of â—ius quintus 1588. The Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland seduced by one Morton a Priest and at Duresme set up the Masse thence they marched to Clifford moore where hearing that the Queen of Scots was removed to Coventry that the Earle 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 Carliel and had also an Army in readines that the souldiers of Barwick and the power of Northumberland were in New-castle besieged Bernards Castle and took it on conditions Then for feare of the Earle of Sussex they fled to Hexam thence by bie-wayes 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 Yeare 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 Norfolke their Father in law had joyned in marriage with his sons grew revengefull and joyning with the Rebels endeavored to deliver the Queen of Scots yet a little before being at the Court promised to assist the Queen his Soveraign against the Rebels but treacherously he undertook to kill the L. Scroup and Bishop of Carleil to whose custody the Scottish Queen was committed but he failing in the performance took Grastock Castle holding it as his own and gathered Souldiers The L. Hunsdon met him with the trained Souldiers of Barwick and after a sharpe conflict overcommeth him and Dacres fled into Scotland from thence into the Netherlands where at Lovaine he lived and dyed poorly Fitz-Morris raiseth Rebellion in Ireland IN this Yeare Edmund and Peter Butler brethren to the Earle of Ormond joyning with James Fitz-Morris of the house of Desmond entred into a conspiracy against Qu. Elizabeth and to further it came Joannes Mendoza secretly out of Spaine The Earle of Ormond going into Ireland caused them to submit they were imprisoned and for their brother the Earles sake not brought to tryall The Lord Deputy and Sir Humphrey Gilbert through Gods assistance appeased that rebellion It is cleare 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 Earle brother to the two Rebels to raise a rebellion in Ireland Stanleys Conspiracy IN the Yeare 1570. under a colour of delivering the Queen of Scots Thomas Stanley and Edward younger sons of the Earle of Darby Thomas Jerard Rolston Hall with others in Darby-shiere conspired but the son of Rolston which was pensioner to the Queen disclosed the conspiracy All but Hall were impisoned Hall escaped into the Isle of Man thence by the commendation of the Bish of Rosse he was sent into Dunbretan whence the Castle being won he was brought to London and suffered death Dissimulation of Don John of Austria IN the Yeare 1576. Don John of Austria comming into the Low-Countries as Governour sent Gastellus to Qu. Elizabeth pretending a perpetuall Edict for peace The Queen as if ignorant of any bad intent sent Rogers to congratulate Don Johns Edict yet she knew that Don John had conceived a certain hope of marrying the Qu. of Scots and of enjoying Scotland and England intending to invade the Isle of Man that from thence
sincerity of heart although the sins of our Nation in generall may justly provoke our God to punish us by them that hate us for that cause that instead of extirpating Popery and superstition a thing nor hard to be done in humane reason if the children of Papists were carefully educated under Protestant Tutors we thinke their Religion tolerable and nothing so dangerous to soul or body as some men seem to make it Should we not detest and abhorre the Religion of such a generation as count they doe God good service by killing us witnesse the bloudy Persecution under Qu. Mary and the damnable plot of the Gun-powder-Treason Yet some there are that would seem Protestants and yet deny that their cruelty was such as the Authour of the English Martyrology makes the Marian persecution to be Others of no small esteem in the Church of England instead of acknowledging Foxes History a Monument of Martyrs call it a Book fraught with Traitors and Heretiques And for the Gun-powder conspiracy some affirm it the deeds of a few male-contents farre from the approbation of the Catholiques others as falsely that there was no such Treason intended but that it was an invention of him whom in reverence I forbeare to name But yet this may incourage us that God will still preserve us for their sakes that have now and heretofore stoutly defended Gods true Religion and that in very many places of this Land we have had those that with all their power have opposed the very beginnings of Popery But wonderfull it is and scarcely credible that any should so much have forgotten the Gun-powder-Treason as to say that they would rather trust a Papist then a Puritan as if they believed not there was any such Treason or had forgotten it or that they thought that those whom men call Puritans were traiterously minded and bloudy persons In the most Reverend and Judicious Assembly of this Kingdome a Member of that Assembly declared in particulars how the best men have bin branded with the name of Puritan it was where any man might freely have spoken yet no man contradicted him If it be given sometime to the best without question those ordinarily called by that bie name are none of the worst because from likenesse at least divers men have one Name We will acknowledge 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 steale 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 reproach 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 larger then Precisian Brownist or the like surroundeth every one that thinketh it not a just thing to rail against the Parliament or curse the Fathers of his Country But I desire not to be called but to be totus teres atque rotundus So much by the way to fall upon the busines now The King of Spaine offereth Marriage to the Queen AT the beginning of the raigne of Qu. Elizabeth Philip the second of Spaine 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 denyall 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 doubtfull 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 Spaine by the marriage of Q. 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 Queene of Scots Daughter and heire apparant unto James the fift and Wife unto Francis Dauphine of France Daughter of Mary of Loraine who was Sister unto the Duke of Guise She after the death of Qu. Mary of England being incouraged thereunto by the Guises her Uncles usurpeth the Armes of England uniting them to the Armes of Scotland on her plate in the windowes of her house and on her servants coats declaring her selfe thereby Queen of England Her meaning was well understood and this it is very probable in the fourth yeare of Qu. 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 ther to proclaime 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 mony 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 civill warre Beside all this she had at this time on every side enemies abroad the French King the King of Spaine the Guisian and Popish faction in Scotland The loyall people of Scotland were so unable to helpe her that they stood in need of her helpe The Low-Countries were under Spanish tyranny and a convenient place from whence to annoy this Kingdome The Conspiratours confessed that they did not intend to put in practise this thing during the life of our Queen for indeed they were made beleeve by predictions of Popish Astrologians that Qu. Elizabeth could not live above one yeare 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 appeare by the inclination of Sebastian Martigius sent into Scotland by the counsell of the Guises for about those times their alone counsels were principally followed with Horse and Foot to assist in the civill warre of Scotland who could hardly be restrained from invading England presently and first of all presuming no question on the ayde of Papists in England from intelligence held with them here For otherwise what could a 1000. Horse and not very many Foot do in respect of conquering all England
Commissioners should meet to treat of peace then was the L. Generall sent for into England after whose departure Tyrone takes the Field againe in the time of cessation of Armes the Spaniard sent him some Money and Ammunition the Popes Indulgences and a Plume of Peacock-Feathers Anno 1600. The L. Mountioy came into Ireland as Lieutenant Generall and in divers small skirmishes beat the Rebels The Spaniard to further the Rebellion sent Don John de Aquila with 2000. old trained Souldiers with some Irish fugitives who landed at Kingsale There were also at that same time 2000. Spaniards more arrived at Been-haven Ballimore and Castle-haven The L. Deputy encamped neare Kingsale S. Richard Levison with two of the Queenes Ships blockt up the Haven and on both sides the Town was battered Then S. Richard Levison sunke five of their Ships To these Spaniards Odonel betook himselfe and presently after Tyrone Orork Raymund Burk Mac Mahon Randul Mac Surly and Tirrell with the chiefe of the Nobility in all 6000. Foote and 500. Horse Tyrone on a hill not far from the Camp made a bravado two dayes together as if he would give the English Battaile The L. Deputy at the foote of the hill chose a convenient plot to fight with him but Tyrone soundeth a retreat whom the L. Generall followed and forced to make a stand in midst of a bogge where by the E. of Clanrikard their Horse were routed and defeated Alonso O. Campo one of the Spanish Generalls and six Ensign-bearers were taken prisoners and the Ensignes taken by the English and 1200. Spaniards slaine Tyrone was forced to fly into Vlster Odonel fled into Spaine the rest hid themselves The L. Generall returned to Kingsale to batter it in 6. dayes space the enemy attempted nothing against him The Don John offereth conditions of surrendring the Town which propounded the L. Generall the English being wearied out with a Winters siege agreeth with the Spaniard on certaine Articles and taketh possession of the Town and sendeth away all the Spaniards as well as those in this Town into Spaine The next Spring the Generall pursueth Tyrone into Vlster 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 bin carried into England but the Queens death hindered that and K. James pardoned him Afterward he entred into another conspiracy with Ocane but being sent for with a Processe to answer a suite which the Bishop of Derry had against him and fearing he had bin sent for for his conspiracy he fled out of Ireland Garnet Catesby and others labour to invade England IN the last Yeare of Queen Elizabeth there was a plot layed against her by Garnet Catesby and others that the Spaniard should joyne with the Papists here in the Invasion of England Winter was sent into Spaine for that purpose and Creswell the leger Jesuite in Spaine Don Pedro Francisco second Secretary of State and the Duke of Lerma assured Winter that this Message would be very acceptable to the K. of Spaine Then had Winter an Answer by Count Miranda that the K. would bestow 100000. Crownes toward the expedition and at the next Spring at farthest would set his foote in England Winter returneth and acquainteth Garnet Catesby and Tresham 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 Spaine and Guy Fawkes also from Bruxels by S. William Stanley to advertise them there that K. James was as violent against the Catholicks as Q Elizabeth and therfore urged the Spaniard to prosecute the old designe The Jesuites privately suggested that they should not admit him into England as being an heretick Catesby held that the K. being an heretick forfeiteth his Kingdome before any sentence pronounced The Parl was dissolved the 7th of July which the K. held and prorogued till the 7 â—h of February Catesby at Lambeth broke with Winter about blowing up the Parliament House Winter told him that it strooke at the roote but what and if it should not take effect Catesby won Winter to consent but first said he goe over and winne the Constable to obteyne more favour for Catholicks and if you may bring over with you some confident Gentlemen as M. Fawkes Winter went met with the Constable at Bergin and delivered his Message The Constable answered that his Master commanded him to doe all good offices for the Catholicks but he shewed the Constable nothing of the matter Fawkes and Winter came both into England This plot of blowing up the Parliament House after an Oath of secrecy and the Sacrament received upon it Catesby disclosed it to Percy and Winter and Wright to Fawkes Percy hired the House Fawkes was pretended to be Percies man and Names himselfe Johnson and kept the keyes 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 doe 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 neare the L. Harringtons They would save from the Parliament first Catholicks then some particular persons While they wrought in the mine they fed on baked meates that they might not goe forth At Candlemas the Powder is brought over about which time working in the mine they came against a stoâ—â— wall when hearing a rushing noise of Coales they feared they were diâ—covered But it was only the moving of Coales to be sould which Cellar Fawkes hired 20. Barrells of Powder they had provided which they hid with Billets and Fagots Fawkes went into Flanders to acquaint therewith Stanley and Owen Stanley was not there Owen approved it Percy and Catesby met at the Bathe 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 M. Tresham The Parliament was anew prorogued till the 5. of November Then the conspirators all went into the Country and returned 10. dayes 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 returne which was on Thursday a letter in the street was delivered to the L. Mounteagles man to put into his Masters hand Jt had neither date nor superscription and by the Lord was that night sent to the Earle of Salisbury who made acquainted with it the Lord Chamberlaine the Lord Admirall the Earle of Worcester and Northampton The Letter was this My Lord OVt of the love I beare to some of your friends I have a care of your preservation Therefore I would advise you
sufficiently supplyed with men and arms as is fit and much desired therfore I say the Lord of Hoasts abhorring and abominating such atrocious and hell-fomented blasphemies murthers and mercilesse cruelties makes his just indignation and wrath to prosecute and pursue them at the heeles giving those small and inconsiderable companies such admirable and even almost miraculous victories over them as most evidently declare the hand of the Lord to be against them and his gracious purpose utterly to supplant and exterminate such devillishly desperate and intolerably barbarous and bloody Rebels and Traitors the lively lims and lineaments of that bloody Strumpet of Rome The most bloody Massacre at Paris Anno 1572. extracted out of the French History truly and briefly related ANd now good Reader give me leave a little to seeme to digresse not so much from the matter as from the persons and places at first propounded and to looke but a little into our neighbour Kingdome of France where I say I shall only vary from personages but the subject matter the same with the former setting forth the bloody plots and conspiracies of the Popish Faction among them also against those of the reformed Protestant Religion in France and especially in that most butcherly and barbarous Massacre at Paris where it primarily and chiefly began to be cruelly acted and executed on Gods innocent lambes marked out to the slaughter before hand And thus it was in brief In the yeares 1571. and 72. Charles the ninth then K. of France the said K. the then Duke of Guise and others of the Romish Faction bearing a most inveterate hatred which was craftily concealed against those of the Religion and in speciall against the then most renowned Admirall of France whose Piety Prudence and Prowesse was such and in so high esteem of all both friends and foes also that whiles he subsisted and survived the Popish-party maugre their malice could doe nothing to any purpose to the prejudice of the cause of the Religion At last a plot was laid most craftily and cruelly under pretence of a marriage between the Prince of Navarr a noble and pious Prince of the Religion and the Kings Sister by which snare to bring the said Prince the Admirall and the rest of the heads of the Religion to the Court and City of Paris that so these heads being first smitten-off the inferiour members therof might the more easily be destroyed Under this colour I say the King invites the Admirall to the Court at Paris pretends a faire correspondence and agreement of all matters in difference 'twixt his Majesty and those of the Religion especially himselfe and the Admirall and a reconcilement also betweene this noble Admirall 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 Cardinall of Chastillon then in England and ready to depart thence for France brother to the Admirall of France was poysoned by one of his Chamberlaines and dyed therof to the great griefe of all his friends and servants The most noble and religious Admirall on the Kings invitation comes to Paris was with extraordinary fair shows of love and regall respect most welcomely entertained both he and divers others of the Religion that came with him The fore-said marriage was not long after solemnized in Paris with great pretences of joy and content on all sides expressed in most sumptuous and liberall feasts and banquets Maskes 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 their Romish bloody faction as stain'd nay steep'd all their dainties in streames 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 Catholiks just like so many lambs among so many greedy wolvs Now whiles every one imployed himself in such like mirth jollity divers that were sent for by the K. Q-Mother Du. of Guise that so they might be sure to be the stronger party speedily arrived in Paris the Catastrophe of all that follows having bin made not long before among them the Dukes of Guise and Anjon being the principall actors openly seen in this wicked work who resolved not to let the Admirall depart out of Paris but there to dispatch him and all such as should indeavour to defend him Now it so fell out that one morning the Admirall comming out of the Lonure and going to dine at his lodging being on foot and without least suspition of any villanie to be attempted against him as he was reading a Petition one shot at him with a harquebush the bullet wherof tooke away the fore-finger of his right-hand and hurt him in the left-arme the villaine that shot escaped by flight a horse standing ready to post him away after he had done the deed The noble Admirall being therupon brought to his lodging shewed most singular Piety Constancy and Patience under his Surgeons hands was visited by divers Lords and Gentlemen of the Religion the K. of Navarr now the K. of France his brother in law and the Prince of Conde The French K. also though a maine plotter in the work craftily complained to these Princes of the mischiefe thus happened protesting his sorrow and swearing revenge and severe execution of Justice on the offendor whosoever he were The K. himself also went to visit the Admirall making many serious and deep protestations of his high esteem of his loyalty and fidelity to his Person and Crowne alwayes and that he held and esteemed him a most discreet and valiant Commander in Arms and that therfore he much respected him with many such like French complements Immediately after the Kings departure the K. of Navarr 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 away out of Paris and to be assured that that blow given to the Admirall was but the beginning of the Tragedy but alas good Princes they so much confided on the Kings vows promises that they rejected this advise and counsel staied ther still About Saturday evening being the 23. of Aug. 1572. certain Protestant Gen. offered themselves to watch that night with the good Admirall 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 Lieut. in this action which now at this present was to be declared to the Duke of Anjon sent for all the Captains of the Switzers and companies of Strangers which still increased into the Town shewing them his Commissions to kill the Admir and all his partakers exhorting them to be couragious in shedding of blood and making spoyle of