of the famine the wilâ—ull obstinacy of that damned people who will rather perish like the heathenish Saguntines then to try his clemenâ—y and fauour whom they knew to be therewith indued more then euer had béen any King in France before him hearing also of this sauage and barbarous act of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by some that fled vnto him out of the City was greatly moued so that lifting vp his hands to Heauen before his nobility protested vnto the Lord as Titus did in like case at the siege of Ierusalem that hee was not guilty of those abominations which were there committed neither of the bloud of them that so desperatly perished That hee was their lawfull King ordayned of God to gouerne them that he had proffered vnto them contrary to their deserts mercy that he might haue forced them but to spare their bloud he had delayed it to his great hinderance hoping that néed would haue caused them to consider their duty But contrary vnto duty and nature they had obstinated themselues and committed more abominations then any City euer did among the heathens This good King his eyes full of teares retyred into his Chamber full of compassion admiration and loue of iustice Compassion was not in him only as it was in Scipio at the burning of Carthage an affection procéeding of a milde nature but a true Christian mercy by the which he did féele the griefes euen of his mortall enemies and therefore gaue certaine passeports vnto many to haue dayly out of his campe a certaine alowance of victuals and liberty to his souldiours to sell some victuals vnto the besieged for necessary thinges as shooes hose apparell and other such things which did somewhat relieue them and stopped the barbarous eating one another The admirations of this strange hardnes of hart of that people brought him to consider Gods iust and secret iudgements who in his wrath hath sent euill spirits of Idolomany in the mouthes of their false prophets that as through blindnes of Idolatrie this fiftie yeres past and more they had replenished their streates with burnings murthers and massacres of the Saints and had stopped their eares vnto the voyce of Christ so they should bee replenished with error and idolatrous hardnes by the wicked Friers and Iesuites possessed with lying spirites to bring them to that thraldome and obloquie neither will that Citie euer be restored to peace and iustice vntill that the streetes thereof be washed with the bloud of that damned generation The King considering his office and charge annexed and inseparably ioyned to his Crowne to minister iustice that is to punish the offenders and transgressors and that there began the rebellion there was by the consent of most wrought the death of the King and that by the reioycing and approbation of the sayd death they had rendred themselues accessarie and guiltie of the same euen their walles houses temples all whatsoeuer they had Therefore he considering correlatiuely his office their offence could not giue ouer the siege and seeing that they refused lawfull try all by their rebellion hee would followe that which in such a case God hath ordained that is force violence and warre yet hee determined to trye fashioning himselfe after Gods Image who is long suffering whether they might be prouoked to take pitie vpon their afflicted estate Here we will leaue the King for a time and will passe into other places to see what preparations of warre be made We haue sayd how the Duke de Mayne returned from Bruxels where hee was royally receaued as a poore simple lackie as is sayd into Champaigne thence he sent to the Duke Aumale and the Vidasme d'Amiens into Picardie to gather such forces as they could and to repayre vnto him with as much speede as they might to ioyne with the Duke of Parma who was comming with great forces Wherevpon about the middest of August the Lord Iumeges vnderstanding that the sayd Duke Aumale and Vidasme had gathered forces were going toward the Duke de Mayne to ioyne with the Spanyards comming out of the Lowe Countrey met with them nigh Amiens discomfited them and slewe thrée thousand of them as the common report is among whom was the Vidasme of Amiens The Duke Aumale by flight saued himselfe within Amiens The Duke of Parma in the meane time commanded the two regiments of Spanyards appoynted by the King of Spayne to keepe home and to doo their feate as they should vnderstand when the opportunitie should serue to march forward before him For although leauing the countrey vnprouided of sufficient forces the States would take occasion to do their busines and to surprise places yet according to the prouerbe he consented to some losse for feare of loosing all The Spaniards were very vnwilling to goe to that iourney but hee put them in hope of doing some great and waightie exployts which were not for euery man to knowe and which could not be effected without their counsell and helpe making them beléeue that they were the onely Souldiers of the world At length the Spanyards as a restie horse which striueth with the rider and goeth backward afore hee will take his way forward Vpon their departure hee sent foorth euery where to shewe his iourney into France hee setteth foorth a description of his armie how many thousand footmen how many thousand horsemen how many Princes Dukes and Earles what Caesars and Alexanders there was in that armie And when all came to all there were three which are by him called Princes euen such as he is himselfe such as may be a Knight here in England which do hold some small Dukedomes of small townes in Italy either of y e Pope or els of King Philip such as are holden in flauerie as the Bassas by the Turke to wit the Princes for so hee tearmeth them of Ascoly Castel Bertran and Symay two Princes as obscure as the name of their principalities There were y e Marquesse of Renty the Earle Berlamount There were also Dons of Spayne as Sanctio Layeua Iuan Baptista Tasis Alonso Idiaques Antonio de Zuniga Pedro Gaetano and Capechuca Romano All these Dons were such as might be twentie groates in the bookes of Subsidie so great noble men they were men that could haue shewed great prowesse vpon the naked Iudiens To be short there were three great Lords Pride Vanitie and Folly who were masters of the Campe. There were also fewe Carrowssers out of Flanders Henault and Brabant hee gaue them terrible names as Amutinados that is angry men Mansferidos and other such I wot not what as would make the poore heathnish women in Italy and Spayne crosse their foreheads thinking to heare some names of diuels He setteth foorth his furniture his stable his pages the couerings of his coffers and moyles and why not the belles of his moyles But a great ouersight was committed by him that made no mention of his Curtizans that was not for lacke of good will but
abusie Iesuite of Pontamosson in Lorrayne to Rome to put Sir Hugh to worke and to lay downe some newe direction to execute the secrâ—t Councell of Rome seeing that the former deuises had failed Friâ—r Claude from thence tooke his iourney into Spayne to giue some ghostly counsell to Dom Philipporey despagna Out of this voyage came the expedition of Italians and Spanyards into Ireland vnder the leading of Captaine Saunders which there dyed mad wandring in y e woods From thence also came the lustie flight of Locusts the Iesuits into England vnder the banner of their Generall Campion to roote out the Gospell and to plant Poperie if it could be done But if not to worke some busie peece of worke to her Maiestie that the Guizes in the meane time might work more surely in France without hope of any help out of England to the King and to the King of Nauarre or to them of the reformed religion if they should stand in any neede The Guizes of their part were not idle but by sundrie practizes had renewed the ciuill warres and by the Kings consent Monsieur his brother and the Duke de Mayne were in Commission for the conducting of the Kings Armies which thing they did as well as they could with as great preparations as might bée but yet without doing any harme But because the common report went that Monsieur should passe into England and from thence should go take possession of the Dukedome of Brabanâ— which was offered him by the States of the Lowe Countrey they were content yet once againe to winke at peace that they might be rid of him hoping that he would neuer returne into France to trouble them Therefore in the yeare 1580. Monsieur before he tooke his iourney was sent to the King of Nauarre which both met at Fleyx a Towne in Perigord situated vppon the riuer of Dradogne where they concluded a peace not much varying from the former Which thing being done Monsieur hasted to his iourney Now this being done Frier Mathew the Guizes Pursiuant of méere deuotion must needs post to Rome yet once againe to visite the Stewes and to aduertize Sir Hugh what was past in France to knowe of him how the Guizes should worke vppon this present occasion There Sir Hugh stayed somewhat his wisedome afore hee would giue answere knowing not well what counsell to giue or to followe because his Armado in Ireland vnder the conduct of Captaine Saunders Doctor of Militarie Discipline and his Locusts vnder the leading of the lustie Campion had sped but so so and had a very hot entertainment His brains therefore was driuen to peruss his Christerosse so that in this dumpe Sir Hugh must take counsell of Dom Philipporey despagna Therefore master Frier must trudge ouer the world Haue with you master Frier into Spayne to eate a peny worth of Raphams Vpon this hard mischances of fortune Sir Hugh thought good that Dom Philippo should play Xerxes and whilest he is a preparing the inuincible Arinado meanes should bee made to doo away both Monsieur and the Prince of Orenge that by the death of the one the Low Countreys should be left headlesse vnable to resist the petie Duke of Parma and by the others death the drists of the Guizes might be easily executed in France The procuring of y e death of the Prince of Orenge was committed to the petie Duke of Parma petie sonne to the holy man Pedro Aloisio who for his religion vz. his abominable and monstrous whoredomes was hanged at the windowe of his owne house a holy Martyr and bastard sonne to Sir Alexander Farneso Vicar of Rome called otherwise Paulus tertius This Duke of Parma acquitted himselfe pretily well of his charge as shall bee sayd hereafter The death of Monsieur was vndertaken by the Guizes that that if GOD himselfe would not kill him they would doo it which they also performed in time Frier Mathew Iesuit carrier of the Court of the Guizes returning out of Spayne fell sicke at Barbaste in Gascoyne not for any surfet which he tooke in Spayne except it were for eating too little The poore Pardoner there was so sicke that he would haue eaten any kinde of meate if he could haue had it But his good Masters did so diet him that according to his profession he afflicted his bodie with fasting out of measure to pull downe his courage least when hee should come into the Stewes to giue ghostly counsell to the Curtizans he should doo any thing to the discredite of holy Châ—rch and to the slaundring of the holy order of Iesuits for such fasting as he vsed in that iourney would doo greater miracles in keeping a Frier chaâ—â— than all the weeping which the Iesuites doo vse can doo The King sending his brother into Brabant determined to appoynt him a Counsell But the Kings Counsell being in a manner all Leaguers appoynted him two manner of men one to accompanie him and the other to counsell him They therefore prouided that such counsell should be giuen him as either should altogether nousell him in all filthie life or els should worke such meanes as might dishonor him or put him in danger of his life Another companie was appoynted him of vertuous Noble men of both religions onely to accompanie him to countenance the matter but not to counsell him Monsieur therefore in this equipage of men of so sundrie colours and qualities taketh his iourney first into England and from thence into Brabant the yeare 1582. there to bee inuested of that Dukedome of the holy Empyre which was duely and sumptuously performed Whilest Monsieur soiorneth in the Low Countrey the partakers of the Guizes thinking y e time long were very importunate to set the Duke forward about the busines which he knewe considering the good opportunitie of the absence of Monsieur For if he should returne sayd they and finde all things peaceable it would bee hard for them to worke any thing for as much as Monsieur had knowledge of their drifts who assuredly would seeke to ouerthrowe all and being in France of such power would goe nigh to doo it To these and like perswasions the Duke of Guize was wont to answere that hee will enterprize nothing openly whilest the King had any brother but if he could see one day the last of the house of Valoys to sit vpoÌ„ the Throne he promised them with a round oath to set his hand to worke so surely that if he did not carrie away the whole yet he hoped to haue a good part of the cake In the meane time the Guizes began to sell the most part of their offices and to gather great summes of money making their reckoning shortly to haue all and to dispose of all But thinking the time long that neither sicknes nor the fortune of warre had shortned the life of Monsieur which greatly they desired they determined to do that which God would not do and to execute Sir Hughs spirituall counsell There was
by time with a good will the meanes thereof then to take the same enforced by necessitie The Queene said that they should then stay the armie of strangers and did much braule about the forme of pasportes Then the Vicount replied Madam if yee bee so vnwilling to giue vs good wordes we are not come to that passe to expect good effects for the which we should stay the longer if we should stay for the meanes whereby to enforce you thereunto Madam the time is no more that we will assure our selues vpon a single promise seeing that the edicts haue fayled vs. The Queene did so giue eare to these reasons that shee seemed to haue her minde occupied more vpon the aduertisements which were giuen her on euery side for they set before her face the apparance of a great rebellion and the King was ill prouided of companie The Duke d'Mayne was in Paris practising against the Kings person the Duke of Guize was about to put himselfe into Paris also They made her see in their aduertisements the occasions which the heads of the League had to giue the last blow of dispaire they did shew her that the hope which the Leaguers had of England was dead with the Quéene of Scottes and that the deuotion of the Cleargy did coole as fast as the ambition of the League did heate They shewed her how the sixe armies alreadie were spent and consumed without dooing any thing that they of the reformed religion were growne strong so that there was no more hope for them to build out of the ruines of them whereby it appeared euidently in what daunger of them the King stoode All these things being set before her eyes made her to take her iourney in haste from Niort to Paris fearing least these seditious persons who had left nothing more to enterprise would execute their mischieuous intents vpon the Kings person therefore at the same time the mistrust did greatly encrease at the Court where there were diuers factions for the King mistrusted the Leaguers and the Leaguers the King and among the Leaguers one mistrusted another Euery one going about vnder the colour of defending the Romish religion to lay downe the foundation of their greatnes by rebellion murther and particide which sturring of rebellion caused also that this generall truce which was in hand was not brought to effect It is saide before that the 13. day of December 1586. the Q Mother required of the King of Nauarre that a truce for a whole yeare might bee taken which the King of Nauarre graunted so that it might be by the consent and aduice of his friends seruants and confederats and such as had elected him for their protector and defender whome the King had forsaken by his edicts ploclaiming warre against them and also to certifie the Germans thereof which were his friends and alyed whereupon shee agreed to giue passeports that with safety of the messengers they might be aduertised thereof Vpon this promise of passeports the 29. of December the King of Nauarre to omit nothing which might shew the desire hee had to pacifie the miserable troubles of the realme and for to dispose as well them of the religion as his friends confederates and seruants he sent forth notable gentlemen into diuers countreyes as well of the realme as out of the realme with letters of credit and ample memories to informe them of all that had passed in the interuiew betweene him and the Q. Mother to that end that nothing should be disguised and falsified to them as it had chaunced often times in the former ciuil dissensions by them who doo watch nothing more then to disunite the heartes vnâ—ted to so good a worke as is the quarrell debated so many yeares against the Romish League enemie to al quietnes these were the contents of these letters of credit The King of Nauarre sent to them to whom he directed his letters this Gentleman N. carrier of the said letters to visit them and to let them vnderstand the state of the common affaires and how all things had passed at the meeting of him and the Q. Mother hee praieth them to beleeue the messenger as well about the particularities of the meeting as about all those things which he had to tell them from him he praieth them also to be of good courage and not to bee wearie because of the good hope which hee hath of the blessed issue of so many labours and for his part he will omit no point of his duetie touching the preseruation of the common cause As touching the memories the write inclosed in the letters contained the summe of them The King of Nauarre protector of the reformed Churches in France supposing that to bee the charge of his duety after so many stormes passed to visit and to confirme the remnant of the dissipation hath sent this the Lord N. to represent vnto all them of the religion in the Prouince N. what the estate of the common affaires is And to this effect the saide Lord shal repaire to the Lords Gentlemen other persons of meaner qualitie who haue retired to their owne houses or vnto other places of the said Prouince for the rigour of the edicts if it can be possible that he may find them and shall certifie them how that after so many lettes and delayes which mistrust bringeth hee hath seene the Q. Mother nigh Coignak that hee hath entred into no treatie of peace but onely hath hearkened vnto all that should be proposed to him touching the attaining to the same that he hath promised to doo nothing therein without the aduise of the Churches kinsmen friends confederats and seruants And that acknowledging the honor which the sayd Lady hath done to him considering the labour which she had taken at that tyme of the yeare and in that age that she is of after many discourses which she hath made of her desire and inclination to peace he hath consented to a truce of two moneths in the prouinces of high and low Poytow Laudonoys Mirabaloys Angomoys Xainctonge as well on this side of Charante as beyond as also in the towne and gouernement of Browage and Aluert the countrey of Aunis the town and gouernment of Rochel in the meane tyme to send for the deputies as well of the churches of France as of the conâ—ederats out of the realme for to intreat of the peace by theyr common aduise But hauing sent the Lord Turenne with six men of honor with him to Coignak for to agree vpon the conditions necessary for the entertaining of the sayd truce The sayd Q. mother among other discourses had declared vnto him that the king would suffer but one religion in the realme to wit his owne which determination of the King she saâ—d shee would playnely shew least any man should bee deceaued therein commaunding him to declare the same to the king of Nauarre to his partakers Which message the sayd Vicount reported vnto the king
had beene still in the Loure and knowing that there rested nothing more to doo but to haue his person for a gage of the Crowne determined to besiege the Loure and to bring out of hand the Artilery before the gate But vnderstanding that he was issued out and gone already a great way of hee remayned Master of Paris séeing that the Master and the seruants had yeelded him the lodging Hetherto wee haue conducted the King to Trappes and his forces are sent packing and the Duke maketh merrie in Paris in hope likewise to be Master of all the rest The Duke and his partakers perceauing how the King had giuen the slip and auoyded their bloudie hands doo scratch their heads and see their error for although the ouerthrow was great yet the victorie was not full the enterprise not well executed and the King being not taken the issue thereof was doubtfull and full of perplexitie For their consciences doo represent before their eyes the perfidious rebellion which they had committed as to haue not onely dispossessed him of his house of whome they holde all that euer they had but also to haue sought to murther him whom God had consecrated to represent before their eyes the image of his Soueraigne iustice to destroy their Prince who had loued them so tenderlie their benefactor who had cherished them as a Father his owne naturall Children They accurse their negligent folly in that they had not beene more watchfull to attend vpon his person feare seazed their hearts when considering the greatnes of their offence doo also knowe that yet hee will haue meanes inough to bring their dooings to iudgement and to take reuengement of them according to the haynousnes of their offence To be short they are very sory not for that which they had done but for that they haue not done worse But the Duke of Guize considering well that the stincking fame of his villanous fact would flee abroade vnto the eares of forraine Princes who will thinke themselues interesâ—ed in this iniurie and that they will not forsake such a mightie Prince in his distresse hee thought good that the execution done this day might be reported vnto Princes neighbours and friends of the Crowne in such a manner that whatsoeuer was therein most odious and damnable might bee either concealed or else coloured Therefore among others he forgot no courtesie and honest offers to the Lord Ambassodor of England to whome he sent the Lord Brissak accompanied with some others to offer him a protection and to pray him not to bee dismayed and not to remoue thence with assurance of safetie The Ambassador answered that if he had been as a priuat men in Paris hee would haue gone to prostrate himselfe at the feete of the Duke of Guize for to giue him most heartie thankes for his courtesies and honest proffers but being there nigh the King for the Queene of England his Mistresse who had aliâ—unce and couenant of amitie with him he could not nor would not take any protection but of the King onely The Lord Brissak shewed him that the Lord of Guize was not come to Paris to enterprize any thing against the King or his seruice but that hee hath resolued himselfe vpon the defensiue and that there was a great conspiracie against him and the Citie of Paris and how the towne house and other places were ful of gibets whereon the King had determined to hang a great number of the Citie and others The Lord of Guyze prayed him to aduertize his Mistresse of all these things to the end the worlde might be informed of the trueth The Ambassador answered that he could easilie beleeue that he saide as he thought but that hauty and hard enterprises oftentimes doo remayne incommunicable and closely shut vp in the hearts of them who doo enterprise them which also when they thinke good doo produce them forth with such colour as they iudge most fit for their aduantage And that he would say freely that whatsoeuer had passed in Paris would bee iudged very strange and wicked by all the Princes of Christendome who were interessed in it and that no colours were they neuer so fayre could make it to seeme good being the simple duety of a subiect to remaine in the iust obedience of his Soueraigne And that if there were so many gibets prepared it would bee beleeued more easily when the Lorde of Guyze shoulde bring them in sight And graunt that so it were yet is it a hatefull thing and intollerable that a subiect would let by force the iustice which his Soueraigne will execute with strong hand He promised him that willingly he would aduertise the Queene his Mistresse of all that which he tould him but to serue him as an interpreter of all the conceites of the Duke of Guyze and of them of his part it was no matter belonging to his charge The Queene his Mistresse being wiser then hee to beleeue and iudge what would please her Maiestie vpon that which he would write vnto her The Lord Brissake seeing that neither by fayre offers words nor prayers the Lord Ambassadour could be mooued to allowe their actions ended his speaches with threatnings saying that the people of Paris had a quarrell to him by reason of the crueltie which the Quéene of England had shewed to the Quéene of Scots To this word of crueltie the Ambassadour answered I arest you vpon this word of crueltie my Lord no man euer named a iustice well qualified crueltie Moreouer I beléeue not that the people of Paris haue any quarrell to mée as you say for vpon what occasion seeing that I am here a publike person who neuer molested any bedie Haue you any armour sayd the Lord Brissake If you did aske it me sayd the Lord Ambassadour as as of him who hath béen sometime friend and familiar of the Lord Cosse your vncle it may be I would tell you but being that which I am I will not tell you You shal be searched here sayd Brissake ere it belong for it is thought here is armour and it is to be feared you will be forced I haue two gates in this house sayd the Ambassadour I will shut and defend them as long as I may that it may appeare to the world that vniuftly in my person they haue violated the right of Nations To that Brissak replied but tell me in good friendship I pray you haue you any armour The Ambassadour answered seeing you aske me as a friend I will tell you as a friend If I were â—ere as a priuate man I would haue armour but being here as Ambassadour I haue none other armour then the right and faith publike I pray you sayd Brissak keepe your doores shut vp I ought not to doo it sayd the Lord Ambassour for the house of an Ambassadour ought to be open to all goers and commers considering that I am not in France to dwell in Paris onely but to bee nigh the King wheresoeuer he be
be shewed in his place So he made the world beleeue that he had been the onely instrument by the which that armie had receaued all the harme which they receaued And whereas the Kinges onely pollicy had vndone that army yet made he the world beléeue by his horsecorsers whom he sent to walke the said Dutch horses whom bee vsed for sowers of false rumors that not onely the king had willingly let them to escape but also had geuen them the meanes to retire some into Germany and some into Languedock and from thence to the king of Nauarre so that the pulpits of Fryers and Iesuits in Paris and other cities did sound nothing else but of these newes extolling the valour wisedome and glory of the Duke of Guyze with procuring to him much popular authority and good will and making the King hatefull among the Catholikes for glosing and dissembling with them and fauouring the heretikes to that end that when oportunity should be offered the sayd Duke of Guyze might easily bring to passe his enterprizes and the king should not be able to let him Now let vs know what became of the fragments of this armie First the promise was not obserued to them for a great number of theÌ„ were slaine robbed and spoyled in dyuers places The Duke of Lorreynes eldest sonne called Marthuis de Pont accompanyed with the forces of the League set on them in diuers places and enuaded the county of Montbeliard where hee committed horrible cruelties putting all to the sword with execrable whoredoms and abominations Many dyed in the way many dyed when they came in place of safety euen of the cheefest noble men The Lords Boillon Cleruaut and Vau with many other noble men retyred to Geneua where after so many labours and greeues they dyed in the Lord. The like happened to the Swissers whose Colonels and Captayns who were the authors of the first parley and capitulation with the king were punished by their seignories so that few either of the Germans or Swissers returned home or escaped vnpunished It is said before how that France in this yeare was groaning vnder the burthen of seuen great armies besides many particular assemblies wherof it is said how Ioyeuse and his armie was made sure at Coutras and their reduced carkasses were left in perpetuall infamy not for their death but for the causes of it The Germans haue made shipwracke vppon the Rockes of Lancy in Mosconoys the eight of December and after The kinges armie was broken against the banke of Loyre and from thence scattered euery man home The Leaguers are excluded out of Daulphine where the Catholikes and they of the reformed religion after much bloodshed at length agreed to liue like good fellow cityzens vnder the lawful gouernment of theyr king and so the yeare is ended and Christ raigneth for euermore The end of the fourth Booke THE FIFT BOOKE THis yeare is notable not so much by reason that it was holden by the Mathematicians to bee fatall to the world as by reason of the great and tragicall euents which happened to many great and Noble personages For this yeare dyed the Duke of Boillon and other Nobles at Geneua The Prince of Conde at Saint Ihan d'Angelye The Duke of Guyze and some of his partakers The inuincible armado of Spaine intending to haue inuaded England was beaten both by God and man And last of al the famous enterprize atchieued by the French King Henry the third with the famous victories of the Church of God in the principality of Boillon against the conspirators and enemies of mankind of the League It is said before how after the capitulation of the King with the army of Germanes at Lancy in Masconoys the Duke of Boillon the Lordes Cleruaut Vau and others retired to Geneua where these three especially dyed Not long after their aryuing there the Prince of Boillon fell sick the 27. of December feeling in himselfe his end to be at hand that he had to passe to a most blessed life carefull for the state of the Church of God gathered in his Soueraigne principalitie of Boillon disposed of his affayres as followeth He made his soule heire generally of all his goods holden as well in Soueraigntie as otherwise the Lady Charlote de la mark his sister vpon condition y t she shal neither alter nor innouate any thing in the state nor in ReligioÌ„ the which there she shal maintaine as it is established Also that she shall not marrie without the aduise of the King of Nauarre the Prince of Conde and the Prince Monpensier her Uncle vpon paine of forfeiting the right of those Soueraignties from the which in case she should otherwise doe he vtterly excludeth her And in case the said Lady of Boillon should decease without heires the Prince of Monpensier her Uncle is substitute as next to inherit and after him the Prince Dombees his sonne conditionally that they shal change nothing in the state nor Religion vpon paine of the like forfeiture And in case the said princes should make there any innouation he doth substitute the King of Nauarre and in like case the Prince of Conde in case the first should fayle in the performance of the premises The said Lord Boillon made executor of his Testament and the Lord la Noue the which done the first of Ianuarie he was deliuered out of this mortall liâ—e to enter into the full enioying of the societie of God being the day of his natiuitie and the 25. of his age This was a Prince of great auncient and famous nobilitie issued by the father side out of the stock of that renowmed Argonante Godfrey of Boillon who was crowned King of Ierusalem a noble and vertuous man his Mother was one of the most vertuous women of our age daughter vnto the Prince Monpensier and sister vnto this Prince now at this yeare liuing her vertue godlines and constancie in the confession of the true doctrine shall be in an euerlasting remembrance For shee being very oftentimes requested by her Father a great deuout Catholick to forsake the Gospell and to returne to poperie at length she agreed vnto him with this condition that if the popish Doctors could bring better proofes for their religion then the ministers of the reformed would for hers shee would fulfill his will Whereupon a disputation being obteyned at the hands of King Charles the ninth and the matter being reasoned betweene two Doctors of Sorbonne and two Ministers of the Gospell for many dayes in her presence her owne husband sitting as moderator it fel out that in stead of that which her Father looked that she should haue been conuerted to popery she was confirmed in the trueth by whose singular wisdome and speciall care afterward the Churches of the Soueraigntie of Boillon were reformed This Principalitie of Boillon is a small countrey holden in soueraigntie yet commonly vnder the protection of the Crowne of France between the riuers Mose and Moselle a
offence of the leaguers and the innocencie of the party condemned he graunted the Edict of re-union patched by the hammering and tinkering of his mother the Leaguers in the towne of Nemours where they had assembled themselues bearing date the one and twentith of Iuly This Edict was made according to the former demaunds and articles of Nancy spoken of before Here it may bee asked how the King knowing the secret thoughts and drifâ—s of the Guizes and other Leaguers by long experience and obseruation of their behauiours by the admonitions giuen him by men of all degrees both strangers and subiects by their attempts and actions so often times atchieued by their vniust pernicious vnreasonable vnseemely and irreuerent demaunds so oftentimes proposed and his faithfull subiects vrging him with earnest prayers to seeke the remedying and reuenge of these iniuries why did he not hearken vnto them and pursued them with strong hand if they had refused to answer to his iustice which thing to doo at length he was enforced to do There is no doubt but he had a will and purpose to be reuenged of them but being a scholler of the villanous and prophane Atheist the Italian Machiauell whose philosophie he had hardly studied by the counsell of his godles mother and of some villanous scullions Italians which were about her hee supposed that he could be reuenged better by craftinesse and surprising of them then by force He watched for the occasions how to handle them in such wise as he handled them of the reformed religion at S. Bartholomew and so with one banquet to haue rid his hands of his enemies and recouered his authoritie state and quietnes And so refusing the lawfull meanes by the which God giueth saluation vnto Kings his owne counsell turned to his owne shame confusion and dishonour Doo ye therefore that which is righteous ye Kings and Iudges of the earth and kisse the sonne least ye perish out of the way The king therefore hoping to bestowe a S. Bartholmews breakfast vpon them was content to take any thing at their hands This agréement concluded caused an excéeding great ioy to all the conspirators who thought it to bée no small cunning of theirs thus easily to haue auoided the deserued punishment of their mutinie and rebellion for which cause they of their confederacie doo carrie their heads higher then euer they did their courage dooth double and heate kindle against them of the reformed religion without comparison farre more then before Thereupon two mightie Armies are appoynted to be sent the one into Guienne the other into Daulphine compounded of the Kings Leaguers forces dreadfull and terrible not only to the reformed Churches of France but also to the Nations round about The Duke of Sauoy one of the conspiracie of the League mustered a mightie Armie that should inuade the Marquizat of Saluces to enter into Daulphine to ioyne his forces with the League The Townes and Cities great and small according to the edict of reunion doo shewe themselues readie and willing to bestow gold siluer goods fauours armours and liues to further the affaires of the Leaguers All these things were much but they were nothing to the great preparation of warre and the inuincible Armado which was not onely in a readines but also sayling forward to the execution of this conspiracie agaynst the Church of God they goe to worke by land and by water For this nauall Armie builded in Spayne was thought sufficient to conquer many Realmes the shippes were of incomparable bignes in number so many that they couered the seas The most excellent Carpenters cunning men and finest workemen of all Europe had spent their wits and seuen or eight yeares in the building and preparing of the sayd Armie The Artillerie powder pellets munitions tacklings and other necessarie things for so dreadfull an army was a heape of things incredible to beléeue All Italy Venice Sicil Sardinia Malta and other Ilands subiect or confederated to the King of Spayne had brought to it their counsell their money their shippes their Captaines their armour their pylots and all that euer they could deuise so that Xerxes did neuer so much against Grecia as this Armado determined to doo to England and to France in passing by As for France the Spanyard made his account to bee alreadie vanquished and subdued vnder his power hauing already these mightie armies aboue said and the conspiracie of the League on his side As for England they thought they should haue a little to doo in conquering it as they had indéede though they had much a doo on the narrow Seas nigh the coast of England On the other side the Duke of Parma had a mighty army in the Lowe Countrey wherewith at the same time to inuade the Countreys of Holand and Zeland and others where they haue the exercise of the reformed religion so that they had alreadie swallowed in one morsell by imagination all France England Scotland Zeland and Holand and for to make this great morsell goe downe easilie without choaking there was in the middest of France two armies and about France the Duke of Sauoy on the South the Nauall army of Spayne on the West and Parma on the North side The enemies of God made their full account that there was no more hope to outstand or ouerwaigh such heauie forces They therefore breathing fire bloud and murther doo not onely determine to reduce al that remained of the reformed religion to fire and ashes and to make hauock and waste of all things but also doo promise themselues a beginning of an assured rest hereafter and infallible victories and that this exployt being done and this great morsel swallowed Germany Denmark Suisserland and Geneua other places would follow or else for feare of like handling would be reduced to the holy Church After this famous victory of the Leaguers was knowne through the realme how they had conquered the Kings heart and courage the edict of the 21. of Iuly proclaymed and sworne in euery towne and Citie where the crier durst venture Sathan the chiefest master and worker of all this game stirred vp false Prophets in euery place to wit the legions of Iesuites Friers Monks Priests these false Prophets â—an euery where a vision a vision I haue séen a visioÌ„ they bring into their pulpets which haue serued them this long for trumpets and drommes to kindle sedition rebellion and murther they vtter the vision of their owne hearts bring forth diuers Prognostications and Prophesies for to animate these fiery courages of the Leaguers and Catholicks reunited together they doo handle so their visions that they do promise an infallible good and prosperous successe But specially they by their spirits of diuination shew their great learning in vttering loades of wisdome vpon the predictions of the olde Mathematicians concerning the yeare 1588. which they had long before accounted fatall to the world both the Prophets and the people doo easily perswade themselues that the
King I say aduertised of these things sent from Deepe to the Quéene of England for some succour who as her Maiesty neuer fayleth to helpe them who are vniustly distressed sent him forces according to his request All the Kings forces at Deepe were not about nine thousand men before the Englishmen arriued to him The Duke d'Mayne hauing a mighty army of fiue and twenty thousand men set foorth out of Paris about the beginning of September giuing foorth that he went to a certaine victory and vaunting that he would briâ—g to Paris the King dead or a liue or else he would driue him into the Sea approached toward Deepe But the God of battels turned as easily with few as with multitude all these bragges to vanitie and shame For the King hearing that the enemy approached very fast encamped himselfe at Arques about two myles from the towne of Deepe by the prudent counsell of the Marshall of Byron The King viewing the place iudged by and by what the enemy was able to doo against him whereupon hée caused trenches to bée made on the top of the hill in most substanciall manner as farre from Arques as a Canon can shoote so that all the army for a néede might bée couered therewith out of all danger Vpon the same trenches hée caused foure pieces of ordinance to bée placed right against a great plaine where hée supposed the enemy would come to fight whether also he might come without any danger the kings companies were quartered in the Villagâ—s round about Whilest these things are a dooing at Arques the enemy approached more and more very fast and on the 15. of September lodged his vauntgarde within three miles of Deepe The King that morning perceaued that they intended to spoyle the subburb Paulet before he enterprised vpon any thing at Arques Therefore with spéed he fortified the said Suburb but specially the milles which steed most open to the enemy This thing being done the King determined as nere as could bee and with small company to view how the enemy was lodged and perceauing by occasion of some that they were too forward commaunded fiue or sixe of his company to giue them the charge in the which seauen of the enemy remained vpon the place which thing being done the king returned to lodge at Arques The 16. before day many issued out of Deepe who made hot skirmishes vpon the enemy where the Lord Chastilion commaunding ouer the footemen shewed himselfe a most skilfull warriour The King had placed certaine horsemen betweene his footemen and the enemy to represse the Leaguers of the Souldiours least rashly they might haue bred some confusion The skirmish was such that the Harquebusiers did neuer discharge a bullet that day in vaine That day the King permitted certayne English gentlemen to skirmish with the enemie who imployed themselues so valiantly and with such a noble courage that in lesse then the turning of one hand they ouerthrew slew or tooke prisoners all that encountred them The same day about 25. of the enemies had passed the brooke which did runne betweene the Kings armie and the enemie and were already in the medow to haue assaulted a Village named Boteille where the Kings Cornet was lodged great troups of horsemen came downe the hill to passe in like maner the brooke to haue assisted them but there came out of the Village sixe gentlemen well armed to meete the enemy among whom were the Lords Saint Marke and Slurbe with two Harquebuziers on foot charged the enemy so hard that they were faine to retire with swift flight feare and sorrowfull countenance All this day there continued hot skirmishes at the milles which are at the end of the Suburbe named Paulet and whereas the King aduaunced still to view the enemies doings an Harquebuze shot strooke his horse in the thigh The same day the King sent the company of the Prince County conducted by the Lorde Armilie his Lieftenant to the Marshall Biron who was at Arques which immediatly commaunded them to goe and spie the lodgings of the enemy who did lye in a Village called Martinglize where were the Dukes Aumale Nemours and the Lord Sagonne this company of light horses comming to the place and forgetting to bring word to the sayd Lord Biron of that which they had seene ran so fiercely vppon the enemy that they killed aboue an hundred and fifty and among them the Marques of Meneiay they tooke many Captains and other prisoners and ouerthrew their rampiers and Barricadoes being still on horsebacke The rest being foure regiments of footmen fled with great terrour Aumale Nemours and Sagonne shewing to these companies the way to flee and striuing among themselues who should flee y e swiftest The Lord Armilie was dangerously wounded through the body with a sword The King from Diepe vnderstanding the skirmish made hast thither with three hundered horses but the enemy was already chased before he came The 17. of September the King caused a Canon to bee discharged against the enemie on the side of Arques whilest the Lord Chastilion did valiantly skirmish with the enemie at the ende of the Suburbe Paulet where he slewe many of the enemies and tooke many prisoners without the losse of any one man saue onely fewe of his were wounded Another company of the Kings Campe at the same time went to view another Village on another side where they surprised the enemies slewe thirtie of them and put the rest to flight During these skirmishes a great number of Gentlemen and Souldiers came to the King and of their owne voluntary motion and goodwill yéelded themselues and their seruice They were part of the troupes of the Lord Rabempré who a little before was taken by the enemie at Gournay a Towne situated in Beauuoysin betwéene the Cities of Beauuoys Roen who had followed the enemies for their safegard The enemie trusting in his great multitude determined to passe ouer the little riuer which ran betwéene them and the King and hauing made certaine bridges of wood to bee cast ouer the 19. day of September about fiue of the clock in the morning the enemie marched from Martinglize in battell aray well ordered strong and thicke Their footmen well placed at their wings their faces set toward Arques the quarter of the Swissers The Lord Billing with two thousand shot was appoynted to giue the onset The Duke de Mayne stood behind with great strength in battell aray readie to giue succour where néede should be The King had watched all night before on horsebacke to giue order in euery place which hee did so diligently and circumspectly that the enemie could doo him no hurt without great disaduantage and losse to themselues But in the morning hauing seene the order of their battell aray incontinently he sent foorth his light horsemen and the company of the Prince County lead by the Lord Montater he sent also his Cornet wherein were the Lords graund Prior the great Squier the Countie
yet necessitie which hath no law made the Duke de Mayne to take all these Italian insolencies pranks in good part néede which maketh the old woman trot enforced him to put in vre all the reuerences and ceremonies which he learned at Bruxels among the Spaniars wherein he had profited very wel for his time The Duke of Parma in taking his iourney beeing troubled with the humor that Monarcho his countrey man who was here in England the gasing pastime of children in London was troubled with had imagination in his conceit that by that time he should enter France the King would be fled from Paris halfe the way out of France But when he came to Meaux whilest they played these mery parts betweene them he heard that the K. was still at the â—iege of Paris whereat he maruailed greatly musing why the King should stay there and perceauing that the King stood not in any feare they eased their harts and couered their dread by publishing abroad euery where how they wil giue battell to the King of him and all his there is not a breakefast And thereupon in great earnest he called for the Cards and thinking himselfe far wiser then the Duke de Mayne who now was but a poore Souldier vnder him and hauing appointed to lodge at Chelles began to march forth out â—â— Meaux to take his lodging wher the King had appointed The King hauing intelligences of the Duke of Parma his marching out of Meaux the 30. of August raised his armie from before Paris leauing y e citie and the Suburbs at liberty The King with part of his armie went before with commaundement to the rest to follow after Pedro Corneio a Spaniard who was in the Citie during that siege reporteth that if the King had staied two daies more it was impossible for that Citie to haue holden any longer but that the gates had beene opened to him The Paristens seeing that when they had come to an extreame period of danger which in truth had béen an easie and an inestimable benefite to haue fallen into the Kings hands were filled with great ioy The Duke de Nemours Frier Henrico Fryer Sixtus his Nuncio blind Bernardino and all other rabble of Rebels went in procession to the great church called our Lady with a great number of people drawing their drie and starued bodies after them with much adoo and there they song merily te Deum laudamus The last wheat that had béene sold there was sold aboue two hundred Crownes and within three daies after it was there for foure or fiue Crownes The Duke of Parma at his first marching from Meaux hauing passed the brooke which runneth by the Towne of Clay lodged at the Castell Fresme The King departed from the Village Chaliot neere to Paris and appointed a generall meeting of his whole army in the plaine of Boundie making his reckoning the next day to haue battell Therefore hee mustered his army there all that day and there he staied two daies expecting the enemies comming but hearing no newes of the enemy all that time hee resolued to draw neere to them and for that intent sent the Lords Lauerdine and Chastilion to seaze vppon Chelles where he intended to lodge The said Lords there arriued found the enemies Harbingers who had begun to take lodgings whom they put to flight The King comming after them deseried some 7. or eight hundred horses of the enemie whom he charged so violently with farre lesser number that he conducted beating them euen vnto their lodgings The Duke of Parma vnderstanding that his Harbingers had béene beaten out of Chelles and that the King lodged there did double his feare and disappointed of his lodging would néeds goe accompanied with the D. de Mayne to view the plaine where the King stood in battel aray but perceauing the King comming with a good troup directly toward them was contented for that time to take no neerer sight The fifth day the Duke of Parma placed his army inclosed betweene two brookes and on the one side vpon one of the brookes there is a wood and a Castell called Brow and a little aboue the Castell a hill All that day the King stood in battell array in the plaine by Chelles The Kinges power of ten thousand foot Frenchmen foure thousand Swissers four thousand horsemen whereof three thousand were gentlemen of the chiefest families of Nobility in all France eight hundred Rutters In that army were sixe Princes two Marshals of France and a great number of noble men and Captains who were able to leade as great an army as that was About 11. a clocke that day the Duke of Parma with the Duke de Maine went vp on the top of the hill to view the army and the situation of the plaine which when hee had descried hee gaue a deepe sigh and fell into a chilling cold and after in a pelting Italian chafe after the maner of Italy and the custume of his predecessors the Popes of Rome swore and blasphemed God most horribly and reproched vnto the Duke de Mayne that he had brought him to the slaughter and that he descried before his eies not ten thousand men as he made him beleeue but twenty thousand men the brauest and best ordered that euer hee had seene This great Caesar that heretofore would kill the Deuill hethertoo had couered the fear which did lurk in his hart with swearings blasphemings braggings and boastings now not able to keepe it any longer hidden doth lay it open for he maketh hast to his campe biddeth his men to lay downe their weapons and to take in hand pickaxes shouels and mattocks The Macedonians were neuer so busie in building Alexandria as these men were in trenching themselues in their Moore for feare to bee set on by the King The King continued thrée dayes more in shewing himselfe in battaile aray vpon the said plaine and prouoked them continually by skirmishes alwaies some remayning behinde vppon the place or carried away prisoners The 6. day the King assaulted them and did beate them from one of the brookes the wood and the Castell and driue them all into the moore where they in great hast as is aforesaid had entrenched themselues very strongly Some prisoners being demaunded wherefore the Duke of Parma would not make a way through the Kings campe to goe to Paris and hazard the lot of the battaile They answered that after they had descryed the Kings power they had lost all stomacke to fight The Duke d'Mayne had left behinde him the Towne of Lagny which is vpon the riuer of Marne right against Corbeil which he thought could work him some displeasure he therefore did send the seauenth day of September certaine companies of Spanyards and Italians with ordinance to take the said Lagny which was but a weake Towne The Captaine named Laphin otherwise determined to leaue the Towne as not defensible when he sawe the enemies approach with such disorder as they did
to examine him nor to aske him Domine quo vadis The newes of this exploit so happily brought to passe arriuing at Rome filled the Citie with Gaudeamus the Churches with Te Deum and the court of Rome with Curtizans Thereuppon that Fryer Sixtus may fill the measure of iniquity and that he may leaue a testimony to the world to be knowen whose Vicar hee is he called together all his Chaplains into the Consistory and telleth them the happiest newes that euer came to Rome since the day that it was taken and ransaked by Charles of Bourbon to wit that Henry the third K. of France was slayne by the hands of a Frier and that hee may giue some ground to his oration flourished with Monkish eloquence he taketh a text out of A bacuck I haue wrought a worke in your dayes and no man would beleeue it though it be told them Vppon these wordes the lewde lying Frier taketh vppon him to make the articles of our Faith as touâ—â—ing the incarnation and resurrection of Christ and the execrable parricide of this accursed murdering Fryer to bee equally miraculous and wrought by the will counsell finger and power of God and by the inspiration of the selfe same Spirit which guyded the Prophets and Apostles and wrought in them the measure of all wisedome righteousnes and holines conducted this Fryer through all the difficulties of the way and directed him and his hand in committing such a damnable Parâ—icide The Lord reproue the lying spirit of blasphemie Thus may we see the hellish diuinity which Frier Sixtus which sitting in his Consistory in his Pontificalibus cannot erre spueth out by the inspiration of Sathan This impudent Frier the other day being Sonne to a Swineheard lying in Ouens for lacke of better lodging though he be neither Prophet a spudevp-prophet let him be nor the sonne of a Prophet yet telleth to his Chaplayns that hee prophecied to the red-cap Priestes called the Caroinals Joyeuse Leuencourt and Paris how the King should be the last of his name and should die an infortunate and violent death By this prophecie euery man may see how deeply this murthering Fryer Sixtus had his fingers in the conspiracy of the Kings death Thirdly because the King would not yeeld himselfe to be slayne by the Leaguers according to the secret counsell of Rome Also by reason that he suffered the execrable murtherer to bee slayne and willed the King of Nauarre and the Princes with him to make exemplary iustice vppon the authors and accessaries of his death Frier Swineheard otherwise Sixtus sweareth by his cornerd cap that as when it is vppon his head there lyeth vnder it the foure quarters of a false Frier so the King shall haue no Masse of Requiem of him but shall souse burne and broile in purgatory vntill he be as cold as a Frogge So Fryer Sixtus hauing taken so great paines for the holy Church as he did that day his belly began to call him to another worke And all the red cap Priestes making their abashio vpon their knées began to whistle with his mouth and with his two forfingers and his thumb hunting flies ouer their heads blessed them voto milesorum nemo vestrum frugi esto get you to dinner edite bibite cras moriemini Not long after at the solicitation of the rebels who had promised in case Fryer Clement should bée slaine in such good seruice to the holy Church to make him a Saint Fryer Sixtus for why should not a Fryer doo for a Fryer euen a greater thing then that made him a holy martyr who suffered for the Catholick faith and Deum tutelarem of the Citie of Paris Then his Image was set vp in euery Church Massing sensing offring kissing kneeling and ducking is dayly done to the Idoll there was neuer so much a doo about the Idoll of Molok there was neuer so much crying about the Altar of Baal as there is ora pro nobis about this new Saint there was neuer so many flyes about Beelzebub as there is Idolaters in Paris about this new Idoll Now before we do enter into the narration of King Henry the fourth we will represent an image of the miserable confusions which are in the realme by a comparison Henry the fourth Emperour of the Romains by the mothers side was of the royall bloud of France a man of great wisdome and integrity The holy Empyre was set on a fier of sedition by the Bishops Priests and Monkes by the procurement of the Popes which then liued seditious rebellions and commotions were raysed vp by the Shauelings throughout all Germanie about the bestowing of Bishoprikes and Benefices First they stirred vp Saxonie after Suobland they set vp an vsurper to wit Radolph but to his great harme Then they set vp his owne Sonne against him to wit Henry the fift Last of all the Bishops Priests and Monkes by treason oppressed him this noble Emperour could neuer be ouercome by force but had alwaies the victorie against the Shauelings and their partakers his age was blinded with grosse ignorance and a vaine feare of the Popes vayne craking excommunication Henry of Bourbon the fourth all one in name in number in vertue and force and prosperous successe is all one with that noble Emperour issued out if we should well consider the histories of the same famely as the other was by the mothers side his Kingdome is all set on a fire of rebellion the Priestes and Fryers haue blowne and kindled it religion is pretended but in very déede ambition is the procurer of all these euills This age is not so blinde if they would but men are more malicious they vse now the old rusty sword of the Popes excommunication as they did then not that they doo passe for it but to serue their owne turne to bée the trumpet of all rebellion he hath sustayned the fury of the Priests and Fryers and of their partakers for the space of these 14. yeares and had neuer any foyle but hath had alwaies the victory on his side The Emperour Henry the fourth was oppressed by the treasons of popelings this I hope will beware of such Chaplaines Popery then did preuaile but now the Gospell shall florish mauger all the religions of idolatrous Fryers and all the route of Antichrist We haue left the King on the sea coast of Normandie there to view the preparations and attempts of the Leaguers where vnderstanding that the Leaguers did insult by the good successe which they had in executing their traiterous felony vpon the Kings person and that they had prepared a mighty army of such rablement of rebels as Paris could afoord them and had receaued certaine swart Rutâ—ers vnder the conduct of the Duke of Brunswick He was aduertised also that the Duke of Lorreyne had sent his sonne the Marquis d'Pont with certaine companies of Horsemen and that they had receaued certaine Wallons out of the Low Countrey conducted by the County Egmond The