Protestants in France during this Civil War they are so sad they need no comment An unparralled murther but indeed that which follows is not to be paralleld for perfidious treachery Breach of the faith of a King and Court and for hellish and unheard-of cruelties sad murthers in cold blood upon Lords Gentlemen poor Ladies Rivers swimming with bodies and died with blood Indeed the most sad Tragedie that ever was yet acted upon the theatre of the world by Turks Heathens or Christians CHAP. IV. The Contents THE King and Queen Mother lay siege to Haver de grace which surrendered on Henourable tearms The King is declared out of his minority and swears to observe the Edict of Pacification but keeps not his oath nor promise The Council of Trent meet a League is made between the King of France and King of Spain called the Holy League the Cardinal of Lorain posts to Rome to desire the Pope to cause the French to observe the decrees of the Council of Trent Great heart-burnings arise The Protestants dayly complain to the King of their injuries desiring him to keep to his covenant but to no purpose The King and Queen Mother in progress rides through the Nation and secretly confer with the Popes Messenger and the King of Spain They come to Lyons and forbid the exercise of the Protestant Religion Many Protestants cruelly and inhumanly murthered by the Catholicks in several places The King and Queen Mother treacherously leavie six thousand Switzers to destroy the Protestants Letters are intercepted which discover a bloody plot against the Prince of Conde the Admiral and all the Protestants The Prince Admiral and Principal Protestants seize on Troys Lyons and Tholouse The King and Queen Mother forced to ret reat to Paris Thâ—â— beginning of the second war the King sends an Herauld to the Prince of Conde and Admiral Their answer The Principal of both Parties treat but to no purpose The Prince and Admirals answer to their Demands The Protestants never embrace a more sure ruin then a peace with the King The Armies meet and engage the success The Prince of Conde and Admiral march to join with Prince Casimir who had raised twelve thousand men for their aid The Duke of Lorrain made General of the Kings Army Prince Casimirs Noble Declaration in defence of the Protestants The Prince of Conde's Gallant speech to the Army A gallaut Resolution in a free Contribution through the Princes Army Prince of Conde and Admiral join with Prince Casimirs Army The Prince of Conde besieges Chartres The Queen Mothers treachery and speech a peace concluded but full of Treason Guile and hypocrisie The Protestants no sooner dismiss their Armies and deliver up their Garrisons but are speedily filled with Souldiers of the Kings A bloody Cabinet Council erected by the King They plot to cut off the Protestants but are discovered The Kings Army suddenly begirts the chief of the Protestants but they escape with their families to Rochel The Queen of Navar comes to Rochel with horse and foot Cardinall Castillon flies to England disguised The Prince of Conde and Admiral publish a manifesto to all Christian Princes the Queen of Navar declares for the Protestants A bloody Edict is published by the King that none should profess any other Religion but the Romish the King of France strangely declares to all the world That he meant not what he said WE concluded the latter part of the second chapter with a Peace concluded at Orleans whereupon was publickly proclamed a free liberty for the Protestants according to the Edict of Pacification Now the King and Queen Mother endeavour to reduce Haverdegrace to their obedience which the Protestant party had delivered up to the Queen of England as aforesaid The Kings Army besieges Haverdegrace To which purpose they lay siege the Town holds out a good while till at last being sore streightned and no hopes left of relief they come to conditions of surrenders but before Hostages were delivered and English Fleet of sixty brave Ships appears under sayl fleering directly to the Port but the Earl of VVarwick like a true hearted Englishman scorning to dishonour his Nation with such perfidious treachery as most of the French acted he sends word to the Admiral of the Fleet Honourably surrendred that the Town was to be surrendred that day being the seventeenth day of July and so performed his Contract to his great Honour I cannot compare this noble act to any but that brave Roman Consuls who being taken by the Carthaginians in Africa had liberty given to return to Rome to effect the release of some Prisoners and in them his own in exchange promising to return prisoner if he could not Now when he came to the Senate he perswades them not â—o accept of the conditions and so according to his promise returned and was miserably tormented to death Oh that it might be said so of our Charls the Ninth that he had but been regardful of his Oaths and covenants then had not we been partakers of such a sad spectacle of cruelty by reading this bloody Tragedie The Catholicks now after this peace at Orleans feared the greatest visible power rested in the Prince of Conde So the Queen Mother treads in her old paths of deceit intending by her cunning subtilty to cut off all pretences of right to the Government by the Princes of the blood The King declared out of his minority and swears in the presence of God to olserve the Edict of Pacification to which purpose she causes the King now but fourteen years old to be declared King and past his Minority She carries his Majestie to Roan and there the fifteenth day of December 1563. they went Solemnly with all the Lords of the Court and Officers of the Crown to the Parliament Where in the presence of the Counsellours he received the usual Ceremonies used in France at the Coronation the Parliament publishing the Declaration of his Majority the King there publickly protested and swore in the presence of Almighty God That be would for ever after duly observe the Edict of Pacification threatning all opposers for such was his express will and pleasure Thus all things seem in a peaceable way one would now think so much blood expences of treasure and a consumption of his subjects would weary any nation and make any King rejoice For a peace is the more sweetned by the effects of a Civil war already felt for two extreams illustrate each other The peace not kept But alas this peace succeeds not the hopefull expectation of his peaceable subjects in many places it was not observed The Council of Trent meets The King of Spain and France make a league and call it the Holy league And now assembles that Council known by the name of the Council of Trent who meet for the maintainance of the Catholick Religion Now the Cardinal of Lorrain being an active Agent to forward any design
shall shortly in particular be related with all the sad circumstances of their cruelty The Catholicks take Bourges oâ— conditions Now the Kings Army sits down before Burges the 10. of August where they felt the valour and courage of the Protestants by many salies even to their trenches but in regard they had no time to fortifie the place their innate valour was forced to yield to necessity whose law has no bounds and so the Governour Monseiur D'Yvoy began to capitulate and at last on conditions yielded but was out of favour ever after by the Prince of Conde and Admiral the Queen discovers her selfe agrinst Protestants and prcolaims them Robels And now the Queen shews her selfe in her colours casts of her vizard and openly appears what she was inwarly For the Catholick cause and against the Protestants and so moved by her implacable malice and inward hatred she with the consent of the King caused the Principal of the Protestants to be Proclaimed Rebels and thus made way for a more open discovery of her most secret treachery whose close hypocrisie til now was so hid under hatches by deceitfull slights that on all hands her deep dissimulation was esteemed real But we shall shortly perceive that the copy of mens actions are sooner read than the copy of their countenances The Prince of Conde delivers up Roan Deip and Haverdegrace to the Queen of England In this mean while the Protestants had delivered up to the Queen of England the Towns of Roan Haverdegrace and Deip as pledges for her security And now the Kings Army marches towarde Roan and on the five and twentieth of September 1562. the whole Army Lodges at Darnettel two Leagues from the City of Roan where the Count Montgommery was Governour for the Protestants and commander of the City The Kings Army Advances to Roan having with him for defence thereof two thousand English and twelve hundred French foot four troopes of horse and an hundred Gentlemen of quallity whose valour was well known to the Army of the Kings that on all times and upon all occations felt the power of their resolutions whose strength and provision failing together with the Kings taking their principal fort did much trouble and hinder their promised success whereupon they sent to Haverdegrace for such supplies as could possibly be spared which in part was effected although the Kings Army had planted Cannons along the River but their great want could not be supplied with a little although at one time from the English arrived with great difficulty to their greater necessity seven hundred men with monyes and ammunition King of Navar slain And here at this seige was remarkably slain the Apostate King of Navar who felt the reward thereof from a divine hand of puunishment The City taken by storm and for three dayes nobus cruelties and murthers The twenty sixt of October the Kings Army storms the City and with great loss and valor on both sides takes it and for the cruelties they used against the poor Protestants lying at their mercy for the space of three dayes I refer the Reader to peruse in the Massaces at Roan which is fully and shortly related in the following Chapter Count Montgomery saved himself through great danger in a galley passing to Haverdegrace and so for England The Admirals Brother D'Andelot with 11000. horse and foot joyns with the Prince of Conde and Admiral Lewis of Burborn Duke of Montpenseir took from the Protestants severall Towns whose barbarous course of cruelty and treacherie is also contracted into a narrow compass which follows in the next chapter Mean while D'Andelot with five thousand foot and four thousand horse with great policie and and no less danger and toyle marches through the enemies power and at last joyfully and seasonably arrives and joyns with the Prince of Conde and Admiral who with great joy and welcome embrases him as much sorrow presently balances all for the success in another place was differently carried by the like Adventure of a Noble Commander the Baron of Duras who having levied five thousand horse and foot in Gascoin and Provinces adjacent endeavouring to pass through difficulties was obstructed by a sharp encounter by the Kings Horse under Command of Monsieur de Mouluc and Burie and at last was defeated yet with good part he escaped to the assistance of the Prince of Conde and Admiral The Prince and Admiral advance with their Army to the walls of Paris who now all march against Paris the Metropolis of the Nation and in their March taks in Estampes Piviers and Dordane and so marches to Paris where after some skirmishes beat back their enemies with Terrour and Confusion into the City putting them all to a stand in their councils but the Queen by Treaties and often Messengers did so with ther subtilty treat with the Prince and Admiral that by delayes the City was strengthened and their gallant Enterprize suprized for want of quick execution but the truth is the Protestants at all times were ready to embrace peace in the midst of their power and so suffered that convenient opportunity to slip and fall into the hands of the Queens policy which opportunity had the Catholicks ever enjoyed peace had not gone before their cruelties But it falls into course here to let the world take notice of this full demonstration of the Princes and Protestants Declarations That they sought only liberty for â—heir Estates and Lives and therefore would to their own prejudice wait an opportunity to effect their peaceable desires But alas it is to be bewailed that ever the Protestants down-right in their actions and words should ever have to deal with such an enemy whose treachery is their refuge and cruelty their mercy Now when they see their Enemies Designs they begin to remember the loss of their own yet falls on the City by a general Assault shoots many Cannons at last face the City to provoke and incite the Enemy to battel all which not answering their desires the Prince and Admiral draw off their Army The Kings Army advances to the defence of the City and the Prince withdraws and marches towards Normandy And now the Kings Army having by this time gathered a great strength from all parts advances under the command of the Duke of Guise and Constable and so follows the Princes Army who now resolves to march into Normandy to joyn with the Forces and Provisions that Queen Elizabeth of England had then according to covenant promised the Protestants being six thousand men twenty pieces of Cannon much Ammunition and fifteen thousand Ducats This March being resolved on at Beauss on December 14. they advance by the way of Chartres and so for Normandy The Kings Army follows the Protestants swiftly and the Protestant Army being very weary and both Armies very near they were by a manifest necessity driven to a Battel The Kings Army follows and they join battle
parrallelled CHAP. VI. The Contents THe Queen and Prince of Navar with the Prince of Conde comes to Court the Articles of the War of the Low Countries put in writing the Mariage between the Lady Margarite and Prince of Navar agreed on the King heaps honours on the Admirall and friends the King invites the Admiral to Court and protests his own life is envelloped in his a cross in derision of the Protestants is pulled down by his Majesties command the Plot almost discovered by a lively instance the King threatens severe punishment to any that shall affront the Admirall or Protestants the Admiral comes to Court and welcomed the King allowes 50. for his Guard the Count Lodowick of Nassaw enters the Low Countries and takes in Montz A league offensive and defensive with Queen Elizabeth of England but proved a deep plot the Queen of Navar poisoned by the Kings Apothecary by whose death the Prince is King of Navar the joyful and bloody mariage of the King of Navar and the Lady Margarite the Kings plot to take Rochel the names of the Protestants in Lyons is taken in a bloody Book sad complaints commeth to the Admiral and great suspition of a bloody Massacre at hand but he believed it not the Admiral from a Window shot in both Arms with a Harquebuzier as he walked in Paris the King in great rage dissembles his treachery but publishes his hypocrisie by a shew of grief and discontent he that shot the Admiral escapes having fresh horses waiting for him the Admiral shews himself a true Christian and patient sufferer the matter examined by Judges and the Issue he that shot the Admiral had commission from the King for it the Admiral like to dy requests the Kings visit the King and Queen Mother with many Attendants perform his request they profess sorrow and dissemble wonderfully the King and Admiral discourse alone the Admiral commits his injuries to the Lord the King intreats the Admiral to lodge in the Loure the Admiral refuses a great suspition of Treason by a sudden speech of the Count de Retz in the Protestants hearing the Admiral requested a Guard for his person which the King grants the Admiral and Protestants advised of their ruin but they depended on the Kings promises carriages mariage and solemn Oaths for their security and safety THe last Chapter concluded with the great favours of the King to the Protestants whereby he had so won into their affections and to perswade them all he said was true and to embrace his cruelty for loyalty now in this chapter we shall see the effects of his desires accomplished for we shall behold all the Nobles of the Protestant Religion and Princes with the most of the Gentry environed in Paris by the Treacherous baits of the Kings allurements The Queen of Navar with her Son the Prince and the Prince of Conde with a numerous train of the Nobility Gentry of the Protestants all come to the Court with many brave Commanders But Oh! my heart bleeds to think of the bloody issue In the beginning of June the Queen of Navar and Connt Lodowick of Nassaw arrived at the French Court at Paris the Count came to receive orders about the War in the Low Countries the Queen of Navar was courteously invited by the King to help prepare all things fitting for the Wedding who to that purpose came and was received with a joyful welcome both of the King and whole Court but as now we see their faces smiling with a good aspect so we shall shortly see their hearts full of poison Two daies after arrives the Prince of Navar the Prince of Conde accompanied with the Count de Rochfoucault with all the Trains of the Princes being the chief Commanders Cavalliers and Gentlemen of the Religion amongst which was brave Pilles Briquemault and Pluveault Collonels and resolute Souldiers who in time of the War through their undaunted and resolute valour for the Protestant cause may challenge a right of honour amongst the prime in France their courage being such as their Enemies yielded to them much glory and renown as well as felt the power thereof Amongst the rest also came to Court that famous Commander the Sicur de Guerchy that defended the City Sancere where all miseries were endured and their enemies cruel mercy a place which was driven to such extream wants as no filthy thing was left unfed upon also came the Marquess de Revel the Sieurs de Nove de Collumbiere one Lavardin a famous Commander of Horse with many Noble Lords and gallant young Gentlemen all Protestants in the Bud of their years with a great many more â—f quality and reputation but alas we shall see these poor innocent Gentlemen basely murthered by the Kings command and so deprived of all that Gallantry which their sprightful valour promised to fill the World withal Articles of the Low Countrey war put in writing The Count of Nassaw had with the King concluded on Articles for the Low Country war which Articles were put in writing So that we may say the King used the Count and the Prince of Orange in this War as the Monky did the Cats foot to pull the Chessnuts out of the fire Articles of the mariage And now to the mariage of the Lady Margaret and Prince of Navar the agreement being made That the Prince of Navar should have with the Lady Margaret four hundred thousand Ducats whereof three hundred thousand should be paid by the King and security given by the Queen Mother and the Duke of Anjou the mariage to be in the City of Paris and now Christian Reader the plot begins The King advances a Gentleman of the Admirals to high Honour his name Cavagnes a Gentleman of great Worth and really honorable in himself for excellent parts and no less valour whom the King The Admiral intreated by the K. to come to Court the better to work his Designs sends as Messenger to the Admiral to intreat his presence at Paris in order to honour the King and Court in this mariage as also to consult about the War against the King of Spain assuring him that the King intends his safety in that City as much as his own and that although the Parisians did cordially hate him by reason of their great superstition in that City being with seditious preaching of Moncks and Fryers dayly inflamed to cruelty and bloodshed against the Protestants yet his Majestie would take such care of his person as he should be as safe as the watchfull eye and command of a King would make him A stone Cross pulled down by the K. command at the Admiralls request The King finding a stone cross erected in Paris in a reproachful Triumph against the Protestants in time of the Civil Wars did at the request of the Admiral pul it down in regard it was a publick occasion of offence And thus the King and his Council were hid with the love-hood
aid of his great Wisdom and therefore was impatient of his delay The Admiral at last is now perswaded and resolved to go to Paris he comes and no sooner arrived but was very honourably and affectionately embraced with a courteous and joyful shew of welcome and so was speedily conducted to the King who under fair pretences of friendly ends with a mouth full of courtesy with well pleased words and a worse tuned heart with courteous expressions baited with Treason he calls the Admiral Father protesting That in all his life he had not enjoyed a day adorned with more variety of content thad this day was The Kings unheard of and devilish dissimulation wherein he assures himself than his real desires of peace and the success thereof shall for the time to come shelter under one Pent-house and lodge under the roof of a sweet tranquillity and that he hopes a period will be put to all his troubles not questioning but all as well as himself were no less glad in this expectation hoping that times to come would reap the future as the times now the present benefit of this blessed day wherein he wished and as much hoped that all former acts of civil dissentions should new be put in one grave of oblivion in remembrance of the sad war past and Commemoration of this Sunshine day present Now what a wonderful thing it is to consider that the King should so perfectly dissemble with one that had so often brought the power of his Crown and Kingdom to so many doubtful hazards as to call him Father and to make the World think his treachery to be sincerity The Queen Mother and her Sons with the rest of the great Courtiers received him with greater demonstrations of joy and love than the Admiral expected The King allows the Admirall 50. of his Friends to guard him The King also allowed him fifty Gentlemen to be about him in Paris armed for the greater security and guard of his person Now the King Queen Mother and Admiral falls on consultation about the Wars of the Low Countreys But however the King was in jest with the King of Spain yet the Count Lodowick of Nassaw was in good earnest who with a resolution according to his Manly spirit he enters the Frontiers of the Low Countries The Count of Nassaw enters the Low Countries and takes in Montz taking with him as Partners and assistants three French Gentlemen Saucourt La Nove and Genlis men of great esteem and account with the Admiral besides many Gentlemen that they gathered to go along in the Expedition which the Admiral hearing advised the Count not to be too rash well assuring him that such strength as was requisite would take forty days to gather but the Count as banished men are being enflamed with the sight and desire of his own Country and desirous not to depend too much on the Kings changeable mind suddenly resolved and as speedily attempted to take in Valentiennes but finding a repulse speedily hasted to Montz and though strong by nature and Art yet took it which comming to the ears of the Court of France and the whole nation did the more confirm the Protestants that the Kings mind was real Now Genlis being from the Count to Paris related the whole progress of the War to the King desiring leave to raise certain bands of footmen and Horsemen to strengthen Montz which being quickly granted he as speedily raised four thousand foot and four hundred horse but in his Martch was set upon by the Duke of Alva and quite overthrown which was wrought by the treacherous advice of the Duke of Guise The treachery of the Duke of Guise by private intelligence to the Duke of Alvaâ— of all that was done which thing was very ill resented by the very Catholicks themselves because many of the Romish religion were flain in the business The King of France is afraid that his war in jest might make the King of Spain war in earnest These things troubled the King very much for fear his counsels might be disclosed to the King of Spain and so might occasion some quarrel to the breaking forth of a War yet he gave order to the Admiral to assist the Prince of Orange in Germany with as many horse and foot as he thought fit which was done and because moneys might be had for their pay the King called for the Treasurer and commanded him to deliver the Admiral so much money as he should desire commanding him that the receipt should not express the cause Great dissimulation by the K. but should run thus Paid such a Sum to the Admiral by the Kings Commandement which is for certain uses the King commands should not be written to which the King subscribes with his own hand the King wrote a Letter also to Monducet to use his best endravour for the release of those taken under the conduct of Genlis by the Duke of Alva To the full effecting of their desire A League with Q. Elizabeth of England and the first Article was the observation of the Edict but it proves a deep plot against the Protestants and ties the hands of the English from all assistance in their greatest need and extremity it was thought convenient to enter into League with Queen Elizabeth of England which the King committed to the Admiral which he did so diligently and industriously handle that by his elaborate pains in a speedy time By faith given by Embassadours sent and by Oaths it was confirmed concerning a further procuring of other Leagues as might most stand for the Low Country War and of those Leagues by the Admirals care the principal Condition was That the Liberty of Religion should be continued according to the Edict and that the King should most solemnly observe and keep his most sacred Oath and Promise so strictly made for Liberty to the Protestants according to the Edict of Pacification And now The Religious Q. of Navar poisoned by the K. Apothecary a sad presage of further treachery Courteous Reader I must give thee a sad Tast of what follows like one of Jobs Messengers for the Queen of Navar being all this while at Court thinking of a joyful Mariage of her hopeful Son it pleased God to permit a sudden sickness and as sudden a death in the fourty third year of her age who being on too good grounds suspected to be poisoned was therefore opened by Physicâ—ans but they would find no figures of poyson but by more narrow search in earnest and by the advice of one A. P. it was found That her brain was poisoned with an invenomed smell of a pair of perfumed Gloves ordered by one Renat an Italian and the Kings Apothecary who kept a shop on St. Michaels bridge in Paris neer to the Palace And it is well known that the same Renat some certain years ago gave a pair of poisoned Pomander Gloves to Lewis Prince of Conde which the Prince
dangers and difficulties got to the Sea side and so escaped over to England bringing sad news in their dejected countenances for the loss of their dear and pretious Friends who were also as kindly welcomed by our good Queen Elizabeth as safely escaped from the cruelty of their treacherous and perjured King Whilst these bloody and unheard of crueltys were committed in Paris A bloody plot against Rochel but prevented Strozzi the Kings Admirals lay hovering at Rochel endeavouring to surprize it under pretence of a Banquet to be made for his Friends of the Castle of La Cheine but being discovered he retreated without the effects of his desire or performance of the Kings command The Protestants murthered at La Charite The murthers at Paris is renewed next day But the poor Protestants of La Charite as aforesaid was entraped by the Italian horse and were now put to the Sword But to return to the bloody City of Paris the next day the slaughter was renewed for all that was found hidden in corners or private places of the City were all sought out brought forth and murthered insomuch that the day before and this day were massacred in Paris above ten thousand Protestants of all degrees and sexes the very common Labourers Porters and the most rascally and desperate villains of the City did this day abuse the dead bodies by pulling off their cloaths and throwing them naked into the River of Sein The places of preferment which now lay empty by reason of this horrid massacre were now by the King given to whom he pleased The Admirals office he gave to the Marquess de Villars c. And so like a true Tyrant leaves nothing his poor Subjects can call their own but their miseries In this butcherly Massacre at Paris were sacked above four thousand houses and above five hundred Barons Knights and Gentlemen who had held the chiefest imployments in the War with many noble and gallant yong Ladies and Gentlewomen that had now purposly met together from all parts to rejoice in honour of the King of Navars mariage with the L. Margaret who poor Noblemen Gentlemen Ladies thought of nothing more then of jollity and pleasures but now suffer the Tyrannical rage of a furious King and bloody death to be pittied by all that shall hear this sad story for poor Ladies they expected no such tragical welcome from a Royal King contrary to his Oaths and their spotless innocency and it must needs stick as the greatest badge of inhumanity and cowardice nay a true character of a bad cause To murther like Devils not fight like men Immediately after these unheard of murthers were acted in Paris the King not yet glutted with blood sends Messengers by post to all parts of the Kingdom often shifting horses for more speed with express command to all other Cities to follow the example of Paris commanding all Protestants which were amongst them to be slain and yet at the same time the same King writes other Letters wherein he laid the fault of the Murthers upon the Admiral and the Duke of Guise Now this command of the King to cut off all the Protestants in all Towns and Cities under his command it cannot he expressed how chearfully willingly and readily they were obeyed by the greatest part of the Cities in France for on the receipt of his Majesty Letters they fell on the Protestants at Meaux Troys Orleans and other parts murthering them without all pitty And now let us a little read with melting hearts the sad affliction of Gods Church let us bring the sad ruins of a good cause to our neer view by a spiritual improvement as a prospect draws the object nearer for we must now relate the sad catastrophe of many thousands of poor Christians who fell under the cruel and bloody command of the King to all his Magistrates which indeed is not to be expressed what sad cruelties were committed to the wonderful astonishment of all that hears or reads it for no sooner does the King let loose his cruel commands but speedily the bloody Papists break out with horrid Massacres more like Devils than men For now in Paris the Prisons that had any Protestants by which reason they escaped for a time were now brought forth and basely slain by the multitude of murtherers in which were three gallant Gentlemen of great reputation viz. Captain Monius a very valourous and stout Gentleman next Lomen Secretary to the King and greatly honored and esteemed for his faithful service in his place and lastly Chappes an antient Lawyer of fourscore years And was also of great renown and fame in the Court of Paris all three were basely murthered as cannot be expressed Amongst the rest must be set forth that unparallel'd bloody and treacherous death of Monsieur de la Place President of the Court of Wards which must I say for the strangness of the murther begg leave to have place in this history Their comes a Captain armed to the Gentlemans house and acquaints him that the D. of Guise had slain the Admiral by the Kings commandment and also many other Protestants but out of his deserts he desired to protect him from their fury with all desiring to see his Gold which he might as well bestow on him for saving him as on others for destroying him the Lord de la Place admires at the Captains audatious and petulant demeanour and so confidently required of him whether he thought there were a King or no the Captain blaspheming desired him to go to the K. to know his pleasure the Lord De la Place thinking danger too near absented from him to a place of better secutity the Captain hereupon plunders his house This poor Gentleman seeking shelter in three houses for his life was refused and so at last was forced to return to his own house again where finding his wife very pensive and sad he rebuked and exhorted her not to be so full of dispondency of spirit for death was the utmost and heaven the crown of their afflictions and sufferings and so spoke fully and sweetly of the promises of God which jointly knit their hearts together in comfort and so calling together his Family he sweetly exhorted them expounding out of a chapter to them then went again to prayer and so resolved with the assistance of Christ to suffer all Torments of death rather than dishonour God in the least drawing back presently after comes the Provost Marshal to his house with many Archers with a pretence to secure him and conduct him to the King who answered that he freely desired to continue his obedience to the King but could not see how to escape the fury of the present danger by continual massacres Presently after comes the Provost des Marchands with order to bring him to the King but he excused it as before but he would not have any delay or excuse so that this Noble Lord resolves to meet death by a Christian preparation and
reformed and that it should be executed according to the tenure of the Edict notwithstanding all Restrictions and Interpretations to the contrary And thus this second war was peaceably ended by the Protestants and no less treacherously intended by the Catholicks The peace begins and ends in treason by the papists Now I shall shew you the Treachery therof and the sad effects for alas it is not to be imagined what treason is hid under this fair vizzard of Peace To see what a foul sin they make of such a fair virtue they pretend nothing more then a firm and durable peace and intend nothing less But ah poor Protestants that you had foreseen this Foxes Snare this storm of bloody cruelty intended but truly their laying wait for innocent blood could not be descerned nor penetrated into unless by the deep wisdom and narrow search of a divine eye so dark and so deeply laid was there hellish Treason for a few daies discovered their intentions to be full of deceitful treachery and that they put onely the name of peace on their most horrid and bloody designs taking Gods holy name in vain by all their promises void of performances But the poor Protestants saw not their intentions The protestants dismiss their Armies no sooner deliver up their Holds to the K. but they are filled So that the Princes and Admiral dismisse their Armies and the Strangers are safely conducted into Lorrain and all the Towns that the Protestants did deliver up to the King were presently by his command possessed and strengthened with Garrison Souldiers Rochel only excepted which place enjoyed the benefit of an antient condition granted two hundred years before between the King and them viz. Never to have a Garrison put into the Town against their desires The Protestants had also by the Edict of peace these three under their command Mentaubon Cognac and La Charite to be held full two years and no more in the Prince of Conde's name The King not trusting to his Court counsel picks a choice crew fit for his purpose and calls them a Cabinet Council Now the King and Queen Mother not trusting to their present Council some whereof being supposed to have too tender consciences to swallow the bloody plot intended therefore erect a choice Council pickt on purpose which his Majesty calls a Cabinet Council consisting of such as would contrive and carrie on any bloâ—dy design whatsoever Insomuch that those which by their Birth and place might challenge a room in the most privy Councils were now utterly excluded and exempted as men not fit to impart unto the secrets of the Kings and Q. Mothers Intentions A Hellish plot by the Cabinet Council And now let us see a little what this Brave Cabinet Council will act what a brat of bloudy resolutions they can creat out of their hellish Breasts They at last conclude that force of arms is not the direct road to travel in for subduing of their Enemies but Macbevil must be called to Council and his politicks put in practice resolved they are to try what plots the attendants of the Devils Councils and the Legitimate son of Hellish production will do so at last they conclude and vote it to be enacted as that which must be put in practice viz. the death of the Prince of Conde and Admiral and so to cut off all future fears of their attempts as also hopes from the Protestants so that no troubles for Religion might after arise But the fear of God is not before their eyes they run swiftly to shed bloud not considering that Gods vengeance can persue them more swiftly This design they commit rather to secrecie than strength and therefore that they might have one fit for their designs they chuse one Cavagnes to whom they impart the business who being a man fit for bloud and cruelty was ordered to take the charge upon him as one that could drink deep draughts of innocent bloud without any regret and with full delight who could be full of cruelty without the least pitty now all was thought so sure that if the Prince and Admiral did not escape they should inevitably fall into the cruelty of their adversaries The plot discovered to the Prince and Admirall Thus the plot being laid they forgot that God could see and as the Psalmist saies He shall redeem their souls from deceit and violence and precious shall their blood be in his sight And so it pleased the Lord of his good grace mercy to discover their deceit intentions of Bloud for it was no sooner contrived in dark but discovered in light by one that speedily posted to the Prince and Admiral and revealed the Plot yet the Kings Army was so quick that ere the Prince and Admiral removed from their quarters They are surrounded yet by Gods mercy escape with their families to Rochel they were by orders of the King Queen Mother and the rest of the Cabinet Council surrounded in Noyers a Town situated on the confines of Burgundy which they had so cunningly ordered to avoid suspition that lifting and removing under pretence of fresh quarters they came at last to quarter at a small distance from them and doubtless they had been taken and destroyed if GOD had not surrounded them in mercy from the purposes of the Kings treachery The Prince and Admiral knowing the scope and drift of their Serpentine windings and turnings speedily advance towards Rochel with wives children Servants and two hundred Horses where at last they safely through many dangers arrive and were joyfully entertained by the Rochelois The Queen of Navar also comes to this Rendezvous at Rochel Q. of Navar joins with the protestants accompanied with a considerable number of horse and foot The Cardinal of Chastillon who lived at Beauvois far remote from Rochel did with great hazard travel in a Seamans habit to the Sea-coast The Cardinall of Chastillon escapes to England and so by Gods good Providence embarqued and safely arrived in England where in Queen Elizabeths Court he was freely welcome and there he did faithfully negotiate with the Queen in behalf of his fellow Protestants in France The Prince and Admirall with the chief protestants publish a Manifesto to all Christian Princes The Prince and Admiral seeing their past danger and present safety solved now to defend themselves and secure their Religion Lives and liberty by Power which could not be allowed nor obtained by peace To which purpose they publish a Manifesto to all Christian Princes in the world wherein they briefly declare That in the integrity of their hearts and cleer witnesses of their consciences they had many waies peaceably endeavoured to enjoy their libertie and lives under a loyal obedience and subjection to the Kings commands and that the world could not but take notice how little conditions of peace was observed by the King that in the midst of Peace it was not to be recounted what
the Crown but is justly murthered The Duke of Guise is murthered The Queen Mother broke her Heart and died AFter this sad and lamentable Butchery and blood-shed the poor Protestants that were escaped fled with all speed to the several Sanctuaries which God in his mercy had decreed for their preservation Those that inhabited upon the coast of Bretaign Picardy and Normandy which were Provinces lying on the Sea over against England They fled to Queen Elizabeths Protection and if occasion offered to fight under the command of Count Montgomery who then was in the Queens Court. The poor distressed remnant of Protestants in Dauphine Provence and Lyonois fled into Swisserland amongst whom was the Admirals sons and Andelots who by the fame of their Fathers Authority and the tenderness of their years were joyfully welcomed from such a Land flowing with blood and vengeance Some imploy their time and Talents in setting forth to the World in Writing this horrid Treachery and Massacre acted in France and to let all the Protestants in other parts of the World beware by their sad example letting the World know the stratagem that the French Court use is to destroy by Peace and that to shake hands in a peace with Papists is the ready way to destruction the instance whereof was so fresh in their minds that they needed no grand Jury of examples to inforce belief their own late woful experience being sufficient to testifie this for a truth The Protestants of Burgundy and Campagn fled to the Cities of Germany The Protestants in the heart of the Kingdome and towards Rochel flocked to some strong Towns which it pleased God of his goodness to reserve for their safety which places they fortified with all the strength they could They that inhabited in the Isle of France Nivernois and Beausse were possessed of Sancerre Those that lived in the Provinces of Languedoc and Gascoiny placed themselves in Nismes and Montaubon And the Protestants in Guienne Poictou Zaintonge and Anjou fled to Rochel which proved a safe harbour from the cruel Birds of Prey Henry Jaques Maior of the City had the Civil government thereof To this City also resorted three thousand five hundred men and came from sundry parts which had been Souldiers in the Wars and men of approved valour also to their assistance came fifty Gentlemen of good quality from the adjoining parts about the City there came thither also fifty seven Ministers of Gods Word which by Gods mercy were preserved in this sad blow and for Ammunition and other Provision there wanted none to supply their necessity of a strong and lasting siege Now at last the King Queen Mother with his Brethren and Court orders a Day of extraordinary thanksgiving to be returned for the good Success against the Protestants Thus they reared up Castles of Triumph to their Eternal dishonour which practice is condemned by a Turk Sultan Orchan second King of the Turks when he had overcome the Christians in Battail word being brought to him advise was demanded what should be done to those Prisoners that yet alive remained in their mercy whether they should be killed or not who more like a Christian than a Turk replyed Oh no it is not the part of a Souldier to drown Mercy in Cruelty for saies this brave Sultan Mercy is the Alms of Victory a noble saying of a Heathen Now the King sends Monsieur de Byron to Rochell to place a Garrison the Protestants refuse it being a priviledge granted them by the King to receive no Garrisons whereupon Byron proclaims a War against them Poor souls they had sadly felt the smart of the K. perfidiousness by their too credulous opinion of these fair pretences and therfore now thought good to preserve their lives from Treachery or dy with honour And now to let the World know what little reality is sometimes found in Princes the King of France declares to the King of Spain that the war which he seemingly countenanced under command of Count Lodowick of Nassaw was only a plot to bring about his ends which as it could not be seen by all so could it not but be believed by the King of Spain so that the undertakers under Count Lodowick were sharply persecuted by them that afterwards got power over them Thus were these poor Souldiers betrayed out of the Kings own Treachery Only Monsieur de la Nove was preserved secretly who being safely conducted to the Kings Court his Majesty commands him to Rochel to solicite the City to a Composition Brave Monsieur de la Nove stoutly and like a Christian answers the King That it was against his Conscience to advise his fellow Protestants to lay their throats open to them that would too readily cut them But the King commands and together with his secret desire to see Rochel spurs him on so having came to Monsieur de Byron who was at St. Jean de Angeli and after a visit to him delivering the Kings Message he enters Rochel who by a joint Consent of all the City was chosen their Captain General who willingly accepted of it and gave a good proof of his faithful adherence to the Protestant cause In January by the Kings Commandment Monsieur de la Chastre with six thousand men besieges Sancere where finding a furious and resolute Enemy which would not yield to their Summons after the expences of great toil and labour discharging in two moneths about six thousand Cannon shot they made an assault but were bravely repulsed to the Eternal praise of the Sancerrois valour and Resolution The 18. of March by a second battery on all sides they at last made a great breach and so assault and attempt to scale but the besieged who questionless had many friends slain in the bloody Massacre had some sparks of their Friends blood in their minds which then shewed it self in their resolutions that they fall on the Enemy by a strong defence and made not only a Halt in the Catholicks proceedings but made them retreat with the loss of sixty of their best Souldiers dead in the ditch two hundred mortally wounded and two hundred utterly lamed all with the loss of seventeen men of the Protestants which piece of valour so cooled the courage of the Kings Army that they resolved no more attempts to be made again such impregnable defendants So they begirt them close on all sides no relief being able to come to them which did so extreamly streighten the besieged that they were forced to eat their Asses Mules Horses Cats Dogs Mice Moles Leather and at last to eat parchment and trappings of Horses horns wild roots Girdles making bread of the seeds of flax and herbs mixed with Bran and of straw and Nutshels they made use of slates Grease Tallow and Ointments served for pottage frying therewith the Excrements of Horses and Men nay the very filth in the streets also such as went out to seek relief were either killed by the Enemy or lived on Sprigs