the one for Guyen Two armies sent against the Protestants commanded by the Duke of Neuers the other for Dauphiny vnder the leading of the Duke de Maine All these troublous stirs being now ended the K. and the Leaguers beeing made friends it was thought good to call an assembly of the state to reforme the pollicie of the Land and to take some finer course for the prosecuting of the warres against the Hugonots and to that ende the king sent his writs to summon all prouinces Cities and townes This Parliament was appointed to begin the 15. of August yet afterward it was deferred vntill the ninth of October following to send their deputies to Bloys prouided alwaies that they were good Catholiks and such as neither had fauour nor were any waies suspected to fauour the king of Nauarre nor his associats and the Duke of Guyse and the rest of the Leaguers so handled the matter in the meane time that not any one man in a maner was chosen to be sent to that assembly but such as they were assured did either openly or secretly fauor their proceedings At this great Parleament there was much adoo and many things talked of but especially of the Edict of Reunion made the one and twentie of Iuly which tended to the establishing of Poperie the rooting out of Heresie and the disinheriting of the Princes of the bloud prouoking the king with many bitter words vehemeÌ„t exhortations to embrew his haÌ„ds in the bloud of the saints and with fire and sword to roote them out of France All which was assented vnto by the king and his three estates enacted as a fundamentall law of the land which they all swore to see inuiolably kept and obserued in al the kings dominions to the vttermost of their powers The king of Nauarre was quickly aduertised of whatsoeuer had passed at Bloys The Protâ—stants assemble at Rochel and therfore assembled all his principall friends followers at Rochel the 16. of Nouember following whither likewise all the reformed churches sent theyr deputies where they resolued vppon the defensiue and the meanes how to withstand their enemies The king continued at Bloys all this while and albeit hee shewed a faire countenance to the Guyse yet in heart hee loued him not for that indignitie which was offered him at Paris besides many other saucie and audacious Pranks which hee plaide since did breed a reuenging minde in the K. which he meant to shew more apparantly assoone as any oportunity was offered Now as it vsually falleth out betweene late reconciled enemies each still suspected other and many tarres â—ell out betweene their friendes and followers which bred sundrie sturres and hurleburlies in the Court but there were two especially which gaue the â—larum to the Courtiers and made euerie man to stand vpon his guard The first quarrell arose among the Pages and lackies some holding with the Burbons and some with the Leaguers wherewith the Duke of Guyse was so affrighted Two sodainâ— vprares at Court that hee ran into his chamber barred the doores and kept himselfe as close as he could The second was occasioned by a souldier who beeing hurt ranne to saue himselfe in the Guyses Chamber whither hee was followed by the kings guard with their drawen swords in their hands whereupon once againe all the Court was in an vprore not without great feare least some dangerous euent would ensue About the middle of December the Duke of Guyse shewed himselfe more disobedient then at any time before and a great contemner of the king and his authoritie The Guyse a maâ—â—â—â—ter of murtherers and Rebels in maintaining a number of Ruffians murtherers factious seditious persons and such as raised a rebellion in August last and had attempted the killing of the Duke of Espernan at Engolesme These were lodged in the Court and flocked about the Guyse and were so countenanced by him that no Magistrate durst say a word to them besides the king being daily enformed of many trech erous practises against his person and estate called al his Nobles and willed them to sweare that they should neuer attempt any thing against him The Guyse refuseth to take his oath for the preseruation of the King the Duke most disloyally refused and said in his presence that he would not take such an oath and if hee did any thing otherwise then he ought there were good lawes to punish him spare him not no other answere could bee gottten at his hands and fearing that the â—ing would be reuenged as well for this as for other notorious contempts as also considering that all the drifts of his councellers were so discouered that there was no way to hide them anie longer and therefore that now with all speede hee must put them in execution hee called a Councell of his most trusty friends as Lewis Cardinall of Guyse his brother the Archbishop of Lyons and some fewe others in which it was concluded The Guyse and his associats vow to kill the king that the king must needes bee dispatched out of hand and that all delaies were dangerous and therefore the twentie foure of that moneth was appointed for that tragical execution binding themselues to see the same performed with a solemne oath Thus was this great french king discouered of a very auncient and noble race honoured for a long time of his owne subiects and reuerenced of his neighbour Princes condemned to die by the hands of most disloyall traytors who had all their aduauncement by him and his predecessors CHAP. XXIIII The King resolueth to kill the Guyse The death of Francis Duke of Guyse and of the Cardinall his brother The terror of the Guysards The death of the Queene mother THough the King knew not of this sentence of death which was pronounced against him The King resolueth to kill the Guyse yet the olde and new iniuries offered vnto him by the Guyse did sufficiently exasperate him and made him watch all opportunitie to seeke his reuenge and assoone as euer he could to be ridde of so desperate a traytor This determination of the king could not be kept so secret but that the Guyse hauing many friends about the king who suspected some such thing aduertised the Duke the two and twenty of December by laying a little bill vnder his napkin wherin was written Looke to your selfe for some are about to play a shrewd play with you Hee perusing the writing wrote this answere They dare not and so threw it vnder the â—able The same day the king receiued diuers aduertisements of this horrible conspiracie of the Guyse against his person The aduertisements of the Duke of Maine and Aumaile to the King touching the attempt of the Guyse and especially from the Duke de Maine who sent Alphonso Corse to him with this message That it was an easie matter to carrie beades about and to put on a counterfeit shew of holinesse but hee was
nothing was heard for the space of halfe an houre but God saue the King a voyce which had not beene heard neare the Court in more then foure Moneths before And reiterating their ioyfull acclamations they ceased not but cryed out God saue the Kings God saue the King and the King of Nauarre Here wee may see a straunge and maruailous alteration on the sudden for these two Princes which had beene so bitter enemies each hauing for a long time pursued other by cruell and bloodie warres are now reconciled and are become louing and kind friends And the king who not long before stoode in daunger either to be murthered or else to be deliuered into the hands of those who thirsted for nothing more then for his blood is now freed from all feare and restored to his former libertie and is fortifyed by the arryuall of this Prince and Armie which did both countenaunce his authoritie and encourage his friendes and so daunted his enemyes that the Duke de Maine The Duke de Maine hasteth to Paris was glad to giue ouer his siege before Chasteaurenault and so retire to Paris with all speede The two kings sate often in councell about their affaires deuising of the best means to prosecute their warres for their most aduantage The king of Nauarre made many roades into the Countrie to the great domage and hurt of the Leaguers and so scoured the coast that no enemie durst once appeare in sight In the meane while the king receiued certaine Regiments of Switzers and help came from all parts of his Realme so that his armie dayly encreased in number fame and power And being now able to meete his enemies in the face he marched toward Paris The King marcheth toward Paris aad tooke by the way Ponthois Saint Clow Poysey Saint Germaines Charewton and sundrie other townes By which means that great and populous Citie beganne to bee sore distressed for want of victuals and other necessaries This made the conspirators to tremble and to lay their heads togither howe to auoyd this perill The leaguers conspire to kil the King which now hung ouer their heads whereupon the dukes of Maine Aumatle and Nemours the Archbishop of Lions whom the King a little before had pardoned and set at libertie the Lord Rosue Bosdauphin Brissac Sagone the 47. which were chosen for the Councell and the 17. Colonels which were appointed ouer the 18. wards of the city assembled togither and after much reasoning pro contra at last resolued that the onely meanes to saue themselues and to aduaunce their affaires was to kill the King who otherwise was likely to get the Citie in short time and to take an exemplarie punishment vpon them and all their adherents Hereupon the King is once againe condemned to die and as speedie a course taken as might be deuised to hasten his execution Frier Iames Clement appointed to kill the King They perswaded with one Frier Iames Clement of the order of S. Dominicke a lewd and bold hypocrite and enduced him with many reasons who was otherwise readie enough to any mischiefe to attempt this tragical and bloody act They forced the first president of the Senate named Harlay whom for his faithfulnesse to his Prince they had long detained in prison to write letters to the K. which this Frier should carrie with him They taught the sayd Clement likewise a lesson containing matters of great weight and importaunce aduising him that he should not disclose them to any but to the King and that in priuate and great secrecie Prouiding him besides a sharpe long knife enuenomed with deadly poyson wherewith he should aduenture to murther the sayd King as soone as he espied any fit occasion offered and entreated Pagarola the Popes Legat to blesse him and his knife for his better speed Frier Clement goeth to the campe at Saint Clow. The Frier being throughly schooled by this accursed companie prepareth for his iourney he putteth on his hypocriticall weed on his back layeth vp his lesson in his head and secretly hideth his poisoned knife in his sleeue and taking an other Frier as bad as himselfe in his companie hasted to execute his deuilish purpose and intent Hee was no sooner come to the Campe which then lay at Saint Clow but hee tolde such as hee mette first that hee had Letters to the King from the first President and certaine other Parisians well affected to his Maiestie contayning matters of verie great importaunce besides manie other waightie things to bee declared by worde of mouth The King being foorthwith aduertised hereof commaunded that hee shoulde attende vntill hee were called Within a while after the king willed that the Frier shoulde bee brought before him The Frier entered verie boldlie into the kings Chamber and being asked what his errant was hee aunswered that hee had matters of great waight and importaunce to declare vnto his Maiestie and such as highly concerned his seruice the king supposing that all was Gospell that the Frier sayde commaunded such as were about him to auoyde the Chamber and sate downe in a Chayre to heare the Friars newes The Frier approched to the King and falling vpon his knees beganne to tell a long tale and occupying the Kinges eares with a long and lying discourse espying his aduauntage drewe out his knife out of his sleeue Frier Clement woundeth the king with a poysoned knife and stabbed the King in the lower part of his belly and then made hast to get away The king being wonderfully terrified with that vnexpected attempt cryed out and laying hand vpon a dagger which was neare him strooke the Frier and wounded him The Lords and Gentlemen which were attending in an vtter Chamber hearing the noyse came running in and with their Swordes and Rapiers Frier Clement is slaine slue the Frier The Kings Surgeons were presently called and his wound dressed and he layde on his bed And for that he knewe not whether he should die or not he called for the king of Nauarre all the Princes Lordes and Noble men that were in his Campe and for the Captaines Colonels The King of Nauarre made heire apparant to the crowne of Fraunce and Chieftaines of the straungers before whom hee declared that the king of Nauarre was the true and indubitate heyre to the Crowne of Fraunce praying and exhorthing all of them to acknowledge him and to promise true obedience vnto him and to cause the lyke to bee acknowledged in the whole Campe and forthwith caused Letters to be written to all Prouinces and Cities to aduertise them howe things had passed at Saint Clowe and of his last will and Testament requiring all his faithfull subiects to protest the fulfilling of the same instantly requiring all true Frenchmen to reuenge his death and to take condigne punishment vppon the authors of that impious execrable fact and so the two and twentie of Iulie 1â—89 the poyson preuayling and dispersing it selfe through
him some of the ensignes who caused them to be set vp in Saint Peters Church from whence he went in procession with all his Cardinals to the temple of the holy Ghost to giue thanks for so ioyfull successe and so did likewise the Venetians and duke of Alua thinking that all the Protestants in France had beene wasted and consumed But the Admirall with the principall of the confederates gaue them quickly to vnderstand that the matter was likely to be farre otherwise then they imagined For they gathering togither their dispersed forces fortifyed Cognac Angolesme Pos Saint Gean d'Angely and other places wherein they planted strong garrisons to amuse the armie of the Catholiques vntill the comming of the Duke of Deux Ponts who was alreadie marching with a great power to the reliefe of the confederates And hauing chosen the young Prince of Nauarre for their Generall who promised to spende his life in defence of theyr cause The prince of Nauarre chosen generall of the protâ—stants after the death of Conde and neuer to abandon them vntill an assured peace were established reuiewing their troupes which amounted well neare to fortie thousand horse besids their footmen prouided all necessaries to begin the wars afresh and if it might bee to repaire their former losses Dandelot was sent into Poictou to view the strength of their forces in those quarters and to gather as much money as possibly hee could for the payment of the Souldiers where after he had very wisely and pollitikely aduanced his busines and gotten good store of gold and siluer for the maintenance of the warres in his returne fell into a burning feauer Dandelot dâ—eth of a burning feuer whereof hee died shortly after at Xaincts to the vnspeakeable greefe of the Admirall and all those of the reformed Churches Hee was very valiant pollitike and passing skilfull in all warlike affaires prouident to foresee all dangers couragious and hardy in all his enterprises liberall The praise â—f Daâ—delot courteous and affable and therfore wonderfully well beloued of his souldiers who thought themselues able to encounter with any whatsoeuer so long as they had him for cheefetaine and commander and therfore they bewailed the losse of him as of their father The Duke of Deux Ponts who was hasting to the aide of the Protestants The Duke of Deux Ponts commeth to ayde the protestants with a great power had in his armie seauen thousand and fiue hundred Reisters and sixe thousande Lansquenetes with whom were ioyned the Prince of Orenge the two Counts Ludouicus and Henry his brethren with a small band of their followers besides Moruilliers the marquesse of Reuel Fequieres Cleruant Mouy and Esternay with certaine culuerings sixe field peeces and a good number of Musqueters with those companies he got forward as fast as hee might still gayning ground and approching the territories of France notwithstanding al the hindrances and lets which were giuen by the Duke of Aumaile who with a great power was appointed to stoppe the passages and to barre this Almain Duke out of the fertile countrey of the Flower de Lis but that could not be for still hee passed foorth and at last rested himselfe before La Charite a towne of great importance La Charity besieged and taken by a composition and scituated as it were in the heart and bowels of France The Towne was verie straightly besieged and planting his battery he beate the wals in such furious maner that those within beeing not able to holde out and dispairing of any succours in time yeelded vpon composition to haue their liues saued and so was it sacked and spoyled by the Lansquenetes La Charity sacked The taking of the towne was no small aduantage to the confederates as also the losse thereof did much hinder the fortunate course of the victorious Catholikes who now began to consult how to impeach the two armies that they should not meete and vnite themselues together but doo what they could the Duke still aduanced forwardes passed through Lymosin so farre as Cars where falling sicke hee dyed of a quartaine Feuer tothe exceeding greefe of all his friendes and followers The Princes beeing aduertised of the comming of the Duke and the taking of La Charity hasted to meete them leauing La Noue Captaine in cheefe ouer Poictou Rochell and other places vnder their obedience and ioyning with the Germaines at length neere vnto Cars were not a little gladde in their hearts albeit they were mightily crossed by the death of theyr principall and cheefest leader The death of the Duke of Deux ponts * The Protestants had in their army som tenne or twelue thousand horse and twenty thousand foot men When all the confederates were ioyned together they first sent a supplicatication to the King desiring a peace but when they could not bee heard nor those miserable warres which had so long tormented poore France could haue any ende by faire meanes they proceeded on and purposed to assay if by fine force they could compell their enemies to any honest and reasonable conditions the better to effect this they determined to get as many strong townes as they could into their handes as well in the Countrey of Lymosyn as other where But the Army of his excellencie was nowe so strongly reenforced with the troupes of the Duke of Aumaile as also with one thousand and two hundred horse and foure hundred footmen all Italians and vnder the conduct of Saint Fior nephew to the Pope called Pius Quintus that they did continually coast them maintained sundrie braue skirmishes with the confederates barring them from executing many of their enterprises and at length each Army meeting together neere vnto Rockabeuille had almost tryed their quarrell by an entire battaile for Monsieur hauing encamped vppon a goodly plaine and entrenched his armie round about in most defencible maner sauing at one corner placed there a strong Corps du gard composed of the two Regiments sometimes commaunded by the valiant Counte Brissac and nowe ledde by the two Captains La Barthe and Goas who still lamented the death of their generous collonell to defende that quarter from all sodaine inuasions of the Protestants This Gard was quickly espied and the Admirall aduertised thereof who was very desirous to remooue them further off but for that hee did not well know their strength he thought it good to deale warily and to go with al his whole forces to this exploit beeing a matter of so great importance purposing to enterprise further if occasion serued Whereupon all the troupes were forthwith arranged and put in battaile array the Admirall assisted by Beaunois La Nocle Briquemant Soubize La Noue Teligny and others led the vantgard followed by their seueral Cornets and a great Hot of Reisters conducted by Count Ludouic brother to the Prince of Orenge who were flanked with the Regiments of Beaudisne and Piles and on the left hand with Rouuray Pouille a strong battailon
body through the streets hung vppe his dead carcase on a gibbet at Mountfaulcon and this was the lamentable ende of this noble Gentleman The great commendation of the Admirall who for his wisedome pollicie courage and constancie in the profession of Gods truth and maintenance of the same was one of the most excellent and famous men that euer was bred and brought vp in France The same day that the Admirall was hurt the king aduised his brother in law the king of Nauarre to cause some tenne or twelue of his trustiest friends to lodge neere him the better to defende him if the Duke of Guyse whom he tearmed a shrewd boy should happen to attempt any thing against him These Gentlemen and some others who were lodged in the king of Nauarres outer Chamber after the death of the Admirall and that they were disarmed by Nancy hauing their swords and daggers taken away were brought to the gate of the Louure and there were murthered before the kings face Then were the king of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde brought before the king The k ng of Nauâ—râ—e and the prince of Conde brought before the king who tolde them that hee would not suffer any more Religions in his Land then one and therefore if they loued their liues they must nowe become Catholikes and go to masse for hee meant not to beare with them any longer The king of Nauarre made a very submisse and humble answere but the Prince of Conde who was of more stout and couragious nature replying otherwise then the king expected was threatned with the losse of his head if hee relented not within three daies and so was sent to prison beeing first called obstinate seditious and rebellious traitor and the sonne of a rebellious traytor Nowe beganne the Courtiers with the kings guard who were appointed to massacre the Protestant Nobilitie to kill and murther all sorts in most outragious manner The Count Rochfaucont Count Rochfaucont so greatly beloued of Henry the second for his conceited and pleasant humour adorned with so many excellent graces and noble vertues fit for a perfect courtier was forced to yeelde vp his life to these mercilesse wretches who saluted him with this pittious godmorrow Teligny de Montreuill Teligny the Admirals sonne in Law and for his humble and milde spirit graced with a singular dexteritie in the mannaging of all publike affaires very deere vnto his Wife and prudent Father was seene of many but no man was so hardy as once to touch him vntill at last a stranger that knew him not ranne him thorow with a Rapier as hee was bewailing the death of so many braue men The Barron of Pardaillon The barrons Pardaillon the Barron of Pilles Pilles Soubize Soubize and Puuiant Puuiant all very famous and worthie men hauing beene commanders in Cheefe and well worthie for their rare vertues of better fortune were there murthered after a most disloyall and trecherous manner The marquesse of Reuell The marquesse of Reuell was hotly pursued as hee fled in his shirt towards the Riuer side and there was slaine by Bussy of Amboise his neere kinsman Monsieur the kings brother at the request of Archan the Captaine of his guard who was amorous of the Lady Chasteneray sent certaine souldiers to kill La Force her father in law who had thought that they had likewise slaine both her brethren but there was but one founde dead and the other beeing very sore wounded escaped by reason he was couered with the dead body of his Father where hee remained vntill the euening following and then secretly conueyed himselfe into the lodging of the Mareschall Biron his kinsman which when his sister Chasteneray vnderstood being sorrie that shee could not be heire as she earnestly desired she went to the Mareschals house fayning that shee was maruailously glad that her brother had so escaped desiring to see him that shee might comfort him but the mareschall smelling her intent would not bewray where hee was and by that meanes saued his life By this time was the signall giuen to such as commanded ouer the common people to make dispatch of the rest of the Protestants who beeing in a readinesse and encouraged by the Duke of Guyse Aumaile and Neuers slew euerie one that fell into their handes yea they so greedily thirsted after innocent bloud that in a short time they had made such a maruailous carnage and butcherie The carnage and butchery in the Citie that the streetes seemed to be paued with dead carcases and Carts were laden with the bodies of men women and children which were throwne into the Riuer death and desolation walked about in euerie corner of this Cittie and that in most gastly and greeuous manner to the extreme horror and dreade of euerie beholder There was nothing but weeping wayling and lamentation and a most wofull and fearefull crie throughout the whole Citie About the breake of the day the Duke of Guyse Neuers and Aumaile brethren in euill The Protestants in saint Germaines escape by flying away and the cheefest authors in that pittious tragedie went to awake sundrie of the Protestant Nobilitie who were lodged in the suburbs of Saint Germain as the Vidame of Chartres the Count of Mont-gommery the Lord of Fountenay Caumont Columbiers and many others who beeing aduertised of that which had happened supposed at the first that it had beene some vprore of the people and therefore purposed to haue gone to ayde the King fearing there had beene some danger towards his person but on the sodain they discouered 200. armed men and those of the kings guard who cried kill kill shooting at them and that in the kings sight who also as is reported took a harquebuz and swearing and blaspheming in most heathenish maner cried out shoot shoot The king helpeth to murther the Protestants Gods heart they flie they flie As those of the reformed Religion saw this they fled with all possible speede leauing whatsoeuer they had behinde them being pursued by those three Dukes before remembred The Bastard of Angolesme and diuers others who wounded some and had killed many had they not beene hindred by the negligence of the Porter who mistooke the keyes of the gates where they shoulde haue issued foorth was the occasion that the Protestants had some little time giuen them to prouide for their better securitie They were no sooner gone but the Switzers of the kings guard and sundrie courtiers spoyled their houses killing whomsoeuer they found cruelly murthering both man woman and child all that day being the 24. of August 1572. was spent in massacring rauishing sacking so that there perished by this turkish and barbarous villany aboue 10000. persons as well noble men as Gentlemen The number of Protestants slaine in Paris presidents of courts councellers aduocates schollers preachers phisitions proctors marchants artisans women maides and children All places were full of dead
King did allowe of such of these Articles as did any way concerne the suppression of the reformed Religion The king refuseth to grant all the petitions of the league but considering that the rest did wonderfull derogate from his Crowne and dignitie and that they tended directlie to the weakening of himselfe and the strengthening of the league of which for a long tyme hee had verie hardly conceyued hee would not bee enduced to condiscend vnto them by anie manner of meanes or entreatie whatsoeuer Now as the Leaguers laboured openly by these and such like deuises to weaken the King so they practised secretly to destroy the King of Nauarre and Prince of Conde knowing that if they were once ridde of them it woulde bee an easie matter to accomplish the rest Heerevpon they set on worke certaine wicked and diuellish persons to bring these two great Princes to their deaths And assuring themselues that this detestable deuise woulde take effect they caused it on a suddaine to bee bruited all ouer the Realme of Fraunce that Nauarre and Conde were both dead But by Gods good prouidence Nauarre escaped that daunger and tooke no harme The Prince of Conde by the treacherous and villaynous dealing of some of his housholde seruaunts and amongest others of one Brillant and a page The prince of Conde poysoned two such as he had greatly fauoured and bestowed many benefites vpon was poisoned the third day of March in the yere of our Lord The great commendatiō of the prince of Conde one thousand fiue hūdred eightie and eight and died within two dayes after at Saint Iean d' Angely Whose death was greatly lamented of all good men for that hee was wise valiant zealous in religion true harted to his Prince a louer of his country and an irreconciliable enemie to the perturbers of the state and to all such as hee knewe to be aduersaries to God to the King and to the Crowne of France The Guises and the rest of the leaguers reioysed not a little at this newes for nowe they thought they were gotten one steppe higher and had greater hope to oppresse the Protestants then before who they knewe were mightily weakened with this losse And for that they supposed that in this conseruation of mens mindes they had oportunitie to attempt something which might still aduaunce their affaires they thought good that the Lorde Lauerdin who had scaped a scowring at the battaile of Coutras should assaile Marans a place of very great importaunce and if it were possible to make it sure for the league The Lord Lauerdin applied his businesse so diligently that he gayned the sayd Island of Marans in a short time Marans gained by the Lord Lauerdin by reason that the Protestants being amased as it were with the vnexpected death of the Prince did not prouide timelie enough for the fortifying thereof with such store of men and munition as was necessarie Albeit that the King was glad that the Lord Lauerdin had gotten Marans yet he liked not that it should be kept by the Lord Cluseaux whom he knewe to bee a fauourer of the League but there was no remedie he must beare with the time being indeede not able to doe as hee would for the most part of his Councell and those of the chiefest were leagers and the Duke of Guise the head of those monsters had caused such infamous rumours to be raysed of the Kings actions and by secret practises had so disgraced him among his subiects that he was almost growne into contempt among the communaltie and was imputed no bodie in comparison of the Guise This opinion the King would gladly haue rooted out and was verie desirous to gaine their good willes and affections if possibly he might The better to effect this he thought best to proclaime wars afresh against the Protestants The King prepareth to go into Poictou against the Protestants and to rayse a great power and to go in person into Poictou agaynst the King of Nauarre and all his confederates that so by some famous exploits against those of the reformed religion hee might regaine the loue and liking of his lost subiects The Duke of Guise who knew that he had stollen away the peoples hearts from the King thought it now good time to discouer his secrete meaning more openly and presuming of his fauourers at Court and the good wil of the countrey The Guise determineth to seise vpon Paris and to take the King concludeth to get Paris to seise vpon the king either aliue or dead to kill as many princes of the blood and other officers of the crown as he could lay hands vpon and by fine force to set the diadem of France vpon his owne head Now that he might be the more assured to accomplish all this he wrote secret letters to all his chiefe friends and followers to meete him at Paris as spedily as they might And for that the King should not be able to withstand him he had set the duke of Aumaile to warre against sundry townes and cities in Picardy and had giuen order that others should attempt as much in Normandy and other places knowing that the king would send thither his principall forces to keepe those countries in his obedience and then he might with more facilitie execute his intended purpose Vpon these aduertisements of the Guise to his associates there repayred vnto Paris great numbers of the most factious turbulent and malecontent persons of all the Land Many Spanish Captaines and Hispaniolized french were soone assembled in that mightie Cittie and that to the number of fifteene or sixteene thousand besides the Citizen Leaguers who were exceeding many and those as desperate and rash headed as any others whosoeuer the Duke of Guyse being diligently enformed of this and knowing how greatly hee was expected at Paris by his confederates resolued to post thither with all speede and the rather for that the king euen as he wished had now dispersed his forces sending some into Normandy and others into Picardy to maintain◠his authoritie in those prouinces the King had long mistrusted the Guyse for that he was now aduertised that hee was comming to Paris he vehemently suspected that there was some notable practise in hand to be performed against him by the Leaguers he therefore sent word to the sayd Duke whom hee vnderderstood to bee forward on his way by the Lord Belieure that in no wise hee should come to Paris at that time vppon paine of his displeasure and in case that he would notwithstanding continue his iourney that then hee helde him for a traytour and the authour of all those miseries wherewith the Land was so encombred at that instant Belieure did his message The Guyse entreth into Paris contrary to the Kings commandement but the Guyse did little regard it for he followed the said Belieure at the heeles and was at Paris almost assoone as hee accompanied not past with some
fifteene or sixteene Gentlemen the better to couer his intended purpose knowing that he should finde a sufficient number of partakers to maintaine himselfe against all men Not long after his arriuall he went very confidently to see the king and with all humble reuerence with his knee to the ground saluted him but the king being highly despleased for that his comming contrary to his commandement gaue him a frowning countenance The Guyse stayed not long at Court but returned to his house in the Citie immediatly after the King being duely enformed of the great number of strangers that were in the same Cittie and that it was verie likely that they remained there for some dangerous exploit caused twelue companies of French men and Switzers to bee distributed into sundrie places to keepe all quiet and in their due obedience The Cittizens at the instigation of the Guyse his companies tooke the Alarum making as though they feared that they should be murthered and haue their houses sacked The Parisians rise a-against the King and kil his guard for diuers were sent about to disperse such reports armed themselues and beeing assisted by Brissac Borsdauphin Chamois and the rest of the Guysards set vpon the Switzers and the rest of the Kings guardes whereof some they killed and others they disarmed and such as remained they kept as prisoners and hoping nowe to attaine to the Period of their desires they made theyr approches and besieged the Louure entending to take the King either aliue or dead The king seeing all that great and populous Cittie in an vprore and that hee had not sufficient forces to oppose against such a rebellious rable determined to leaue the Louure The King lâ—aueth Paris and flieth to Chartres at the perswasions of sundrie his most faithfull councellers who aduised him to giue place to that desperate Rebellion to seeke his safetie some other where whereupon he incontinently departed from Paris and went that night as farre as Trappes and the next day to his Citie of Chartres Many great Lords Gentlemen of good place which were the kings friends went after him as fast as they could some on horsebacke and some on foote making as good shift as they could vpon so short warning wherein wee may note a maruailous strange alteration and vicissitude in the state of this great Prince who hauing beene so mightie a monarke and a king of two such noble and puissant countreyes as were Polonia and France a commander ouer so many great and honourable personages and had ruled such an infinite multitude of all sorts was now driuen out of his owne house and out of his cheefest Citie and forced to flie before him who was his vassaile and subiect to his intollerable greefe and vexation leauing his treasure and whatsoeuer precious things he had to be a pray for his enemies The Guyse vnderstanding that the king was escaped and had auoyded his bloudy fingers was maruailously greeued and cursed his ouersight knowing that hee should neuer haue the like oportunitie againe to effect his purpose and fearing that the King would seeke to be reuenged of so great an indignitie offered to his person thought that hee would prouide the meanes as wel as he could to defende himself and his therfore he seised vpon the Kings arsemall and vpon his treasor The Guyse seiseth vppon the Kings treasor whereof hee brought to his owne house aboue seauen hundred thousand Crownes which hee laide vp as an earnest for the rest Then did he forthwith alter the pollicie of the Citie remoouing Perrense the prouost of the Merchants from his office and the rest of the cheefest officers which he knew to be affectionate to the king and placed such as were the most factious seditious Leaguers in their roumes he wrote also sundry letters to his frieÌ„ds abroad and to the principall Townes such as he knew to bee deuoted to him requiring them to ioyne with him and to be in a readinesse when hee should haue neede and caused it to be bruted that all that which had passed at Paris was not against the king but to defend the Cittie which was in danger to bee spoyled by strangers and that the king by the counsell of the Duke of Espernon who had said he intelligence with the King of Nauarre and the Heretikes had caused sundrie gibbets to be set vp in seueral places of the Citie to hang diuers Cittizens and to spoyle their houses thereby to gather money and to warre against the Leaguers The Guyse seeketh to couer his rebellious action When the Guyse had taken the course to assure himselfe by all the deuises hee could hee wrote letters to the king seeking to disguyse all this action and to perswade him that hee had no euill meaning against his maiestie but had alwaies beene and still remained his most dutifull subiect and had in this tumultuous stirre happened at Paris shewed how hee respected the King and all his seruants in that hee had taken so great prayes euen with the danger of his life to saue sundrie his officers his Captaines and Souldiers and so farre forth as possibly he might to keep the people from murther and bloudsâ—ed which was then so likely to haue fallen out and that to the great and irreperable harme of the Kings best affected subiects After the alleaging of these and many other arguments to proue his fidelitie he besought the king to be his gracious Lord and to account of him as his most faithfull and loyall sâ—biect and for that hee had a guiltie conscience hee was continually in feare least the King would at one time or other bee reuenged howsoeuer peraduenture for the time hee might dissemble the matter and shew him a fayre countenance and therefore hee practised all meanes to make his attonement and to that ende made earnest sute to the Queene mother to stand his gracious Lady Such was his demeanor and so cunningly hee handled the matter that she was woon to be a mediator for him and to assay to bring him againe into the kings fauor The king reposing a maruailous confidence in his mother The Queen mother reconcileth the Guyse to the King who had bewitched him with an opinion of her loue and naturall affection towards him suffered himselfe to be ruled by her aduice notwithstanding all the perswasions of the Catholikes that were about him who exclaimed against the Guyses and their proude and rebellious enterprises and required the king to taâ—e condigne punishment proffering him their seruice their liues theyr goods and whatsoeuer meanes they had for the accomplishment thereof The king thanked them for their good willes but resoluing to make a peace sent them home againe and would not follow their counsels After much going and comming on both sides the reconciliation was made the K. the Leaguers became good friendes and intended to bend all their forces against the Protestants Wherupon two mighty armies were prepared
thing This companie consisting of meere polliticks in the beginning and such as sought for nothing but a reformation in the common weale were in processe of time assisted by a multitude of those who were tearmed Hugonots as it is the maner of discontented persons how different so euer the occasion be to ioyne rogether in hope of fortunes accidents who allied themselues with the rest the more willingly for that it was in a ciuill cause and such a thing as tended to the honour of the King and generall good of the whole state Monsieur de Renaudy hauing acquainted many of good account with this great and waightie enterprise as the Baron Chastellnaw Captaine Mazeres Vaillay Bressay Chesnay Chiray S. Mary Coqueuille Chateaunef and sundrie others resolued with all possible speed in as close and secret maner as might be to draw neere the Court which was then at Amboyse and on the sodaine with some fiue hundred Gentlemen The enterprise of the Lord of Renaudy discouered to seise vpon the Guyse and the Cardinall of Lorrain his Brother and hauing once caught them to put them to death for an exemplarie punishment to all other seducers of the King and disturbers of the common wealth This enterprise could not bee so closely kept but that it came to the eares of the Guyses who vnderstanding after sundrie examinations the drift and scope of the whole proiect and howe that most of those who had complotted together hadde long since shaken off the Popes yoake deuised straight to publish so notable a conspiracie and to make it seeme as odious as might bee to the eyes of all men they declared howe that they of the reformed Religion had conspired against the king the Queene mother the kings brethren and Princes of the bloud sought to bring in their doctrine by force to ouerthrow the monarchie of France and to reduce it to a popular estate and gouernement and by depriuing the king of his crowne to pull downe the church to root out the ancient Catholike faith to infect the whole land with all kinde of impietie and irreligion and hauing by sundry proclamations declared the hainousnesse of the fact fearing that a matter of such consequence was not attempted without the priuitie of some great ones in the land they fortified themselues very strongly mustered souldiers gathered forces and gat all things in a readinesse to withstand any attempt that should be made vppon the sodaine Being thus prouided they foorthwith apprehended such as they suspected and proceeded against them with all rigour Many of them who were taken were executed and the rest committed to seuerall prisons sauing some few that by their good fortune escaped their hands At length diuers of the meaner sort were set at libertie fearing indeede that if all should bee punished so great seueritie would alienate the hearts of many who were nothing well affected alreadie And although that the King of Nauarre the Prince of Conde the Admirall nor Dandelot could bee charged with the maintaining or abetting of anie of these attempts yet did the Guyses strongly suspect them and especially the three Chattillons The three Chattillons of all other most hated the Guyses whom of all other they feared most notwithstanding they thought it good pollicie to giue them faire speeches for the time and to entertaine them in all plausible maner vntill they had gotten their forces about them and had prouided a strong armie in a readinesse which was no sooner performed but they began to speake bigge words and to deale more roughly and first of all they dealt with the Prince of Conde who was commanded not to depart the Court without licence while in the meane time they practised to catch matter against him and to that purpose sundrie with faire promises and rewardes were subborned to proue him the cheefe of that seditious tumult at Amboyse They daily whispered in the Kings eare The Guyses incense the King against the Prince of Conde that so long as Conde were at libertie and suffered to countenance such as alreadie were discontented with the present gouernement the whole land would neuer bee at quiet nor the kings person in safetie as appeared by the last rebellious and tumultuous practise The onely way to preuent so many and so great mischiefes was to bring the Prince to his answere and by apprehending the ringleaders to keep the meaner sort in order and due obedience Whereupon the king beeing by these sinister informations mightily incensed against the Prince commaunded La Trousse the steward of his house to attach sundrie of his seruants and to haue them in safe keeping and to commaund the prince himselfe to come vnto his presence the next morrow and to the ende there might be some matter found against him his house was searched and all his papers ransacked the Guyses hadde also sent to search the Chamber and study of the king of Nauarres Secretarie hoping that something would bee founde to minister matter against these great personages for nowe they might do what they listed seeing the king approoued whatsoeuer they did and did speake as it were with theyr tongues As soone as the Prince was informed of the kings pleasure The Prince of Conde brought before the king he readily obeyed and comming before him did so cleare himselfe and answered with such courage and alacritie that it was thought good to dismisse him for that present without any further triall whereupon the king shewed him very good countenance and the Guyses seeing the time serued not to accomplish what they had purposed cloked all in as couert maner as might bee and each departed from other as good friendes But the Prince seeing his life was sought for thought it wisedome to looke to himselfe and for that long since he fauoured the Gospel he supposed it to be best to go to his brother the King of Nauarre The Prince of Conde leaueth the court and goeth to the King of Nauarre where he should be out of all danger and might vse his conscience freely Many wondered at this strange dealings with the Princes of the bloud saying that if they could not liue without perill of their liues that it would shortly come to passe that all true and naturall Frenchmen should bee accounted enemies and no man bee in securitie but the house of Guyse and Lorrayne who being but strangers themselues durst notwithstanding attempt such practises against the kings best affected subiects as were in no sort to bee endured Heereupon great rumors were raised and infinite multitudes grew greeued with these iniurious proceedings To preuent the mischiefes that might ensue hereof the Queene mother with the rest of the Kings councell sought by amiable letters and smoth words to content such as most complained and where they did feare most danger thither did they send such as were most gracious with the people to keepe them in their obedience The Admirall who for his wisedome integritie and experience
the Citie in verie terrible and furious maner and hauing ouerthrowne their Towers battered their houses and made a sufficient breach they were readie to giue an assault and to assay the getting of the Towne by maine force Ligneres one of the Knights of the order was Captaine of the Towne who endeuoured by all meanes to keepe the same in despite of the Confederates and with great celeritie repayred in the night whatsoeuer had beene broken and throwne downe in the day and so wisely and politiquely preuented all the stratagems of his enemies that it was not possible for the Prince to effect his intended purpose But the King vnderstanding that they could not long holde out and being not able to remooue the siege thought it best to offer the Prince a peace which after manie meetings was at length concluded The principall effect whereof was The King offereth a peace which is accepted by the Prince that euery man should quietly enioy his Religion and from thenceforth neuer bee troubled for their consciences This being agreed vpon though contrarie to the liking of manie of the Princes best friends and principall Captaines who still cryed out that the King would breake his promise as soone as he espied his aduauntage and proclaimed in the Campe before Charters the Armie brake vp and euerie one was licenced to depart home into his owne Countrey CHAP. XI The third ciuill warres The battell of Bassac where the Prince of Conde is slaine The Prince of Nauarre chosen Generall of the Protestants The death of Dandelot The death of the Duke of Deux-ponts A great victorie of the Protestants Monsieur dissolueth his armie The siege of Poictiers NOw was France once againe reduced to a quiet estate and who would not haue thought but that after so many bastonados The third ciuill warres euery one would haue bin glad to haue nourished the same by all possible meanes and to haue learned by their former miseries to beware how they entred into new troubles But such were the wicked counsels of some turbulent spirits that they could not endure any quietnes but gaue daily occasions to fill the whole land full of new broyles and vprores The two late reconciled factions were continually very iealous each of others proceedings one blamed the other for not accomplishing such conditions as were agreed vpon and so solemnly sworne on both sides The Catholiks alledged that the Protestants had not put all their strong townes into the kings hands according to the tenure of the Articles of the peace lately agreed vpon that Rochell did fortifie it selfe and would not receyue the Catholikes into their former offices and dignities The complaints of the Catholiks that they rigged shippes and made themselues strong at sea and that without the kings knowledge that Coqueuille leuied many soldiers for the ayd of the prince of Orenge contrarie to the pacification made before Chartres All which things could not be atteÌ„pted without the knowledge of the confederats that which was most strange of al they practised to leuy soldiers in Germany other places The Protestants complained The complaints of the Protestants that they could not be permitted freely to vse their consciences according as it was conditioned That the Catholikes did still retaine the Switzers and the Italian bands and placed sundry strong garrisons in those townes which were of the Religion and that such which had liued in exile could not returne to their houses without imminent peril of their liues Alledging withall the horrible murthers robberies and other execrable facts committed vpon the persons and goods of those of the reformed Churches These with some others were the reasons which animated both parts to stirre coales and to begin the warres afresh The Catholikes knowing Rochell to be a verie strong place sought by al cunning deuises to make themselues maisters thereof and with fayre promises intermingled with threats laboured to perswade them to receyue a garrison of the Catholikes but they would in no case agree thereto but still droue them of with newe delayes Tauannes was commaunded to surprise the Prince of Conde The prince of Conde in danger to bee taken by Tauannes who was then in Noyars But hee beeing aduertised thereof departed in great haste with the Princesse his wife the Admirall and some hundred horse and passing ouer the Loyer went into Poictou where increasing his forces by the comming of Verac Soubize Anguilier Saint Cyre and Puuiant at last arriued at Rochell in despite of all his enemies whither not long after came the Queene of Nauar Conde commeth to Rochel whether the Queene of Nauarre also repaireth with the yong Prince of Barne her son Where there was forthwith a Councell helde for the managing of their future actions The rest of the Protestant Captaines as Dandelot Mountgommery La Noue and others being aduertised of all these sturres gathered what forces they could and marched towards Rochell with great speede taking by the way Partenay Niort and Maile which proued afterwarde very aduantagious for the Confederates Angolesme Pons S. Iohn d' Angely and Tallebourg were likewise surprised by those of the reformed Religion so that now many good townes were againe at their deuotion and commaundement Monsieur made lieutenant for the King his brother The King being aduertised of all these designements declared Monsieur the Duke of Aniou his brother his Lieutenant generall who dispatched forthwith Letters and Messengers into all parts to assemble Bannes and Arierbannes and to command all gentlemen and others to be in a readinesse at the time appointed at Estamps where he had proclaimed the Rendeuous there to attend the further pleasure of his excellencie The protestants assembled souldiours on all sides especially in Languedoc Prouence and Dauphiuy vnder the conduct of Colonell Acier Montbrun and Saint Romain who had gathered some sixteene or seuenteene thousand footmen and seuen hundred horse and were marching toward the Prince who expected their comming at Chalons This new supply did maruellously strengthen the confederates and encouraged them to proceed on in their enterprise and to seeke their enemies who now were growne to an head and readie to march vnder their leaders and conductors After many attempts on eyther side and that both the Armies had endomaged each other by the taking of sundry townes and afflicting the poore Counâ—ry with a thousand miseries both Generals resolued to trie their fortunes by an entire battaile as soone as occasion was offered With this resolution Henrie Duke of Aniou hauing intelligence that the Lorde Pilles was comming towarde the Prince of Conde with a newe supplie of souldiours led his armie through Poictou Lymosin and the Countrey of Angoumois and discended alongst the Riuer of Charente as though hee woulde take Chasteaunef there to passe ouer the water and to barre Pilles from ioyning with the Prince VVhich when the Confederates vnderstoode they passed Charente at Cognac with purpose to preuent the Armie of the
thing in shewe highlie tending to the honour of the Prince and the establishing of a perpetuall peace and amitie with the Confederates The Prince of Conde was marryed to Marie de Cleues The prince of Conde marrieth the youngest daughter to the Duke of Neuers the Admirall with the daughter of the Count of Entremont in Sauoy The admiral marieth and the young Teligny with Lois of Colligny the Admirals daughter thus was there nothing but feasting banquetting singing reuelling and making of loue throughout all the partes of Fraunce The king seemed to stande highly contented with this peace and began dayly more and more to countenaunce the Protestants For hauing once perswaded the Queene of Nauarre to come to the court The Queene of Nauarre goeth to the Court. both he the Queene mother the Dukes of Aniou and Alenson the Kings brethren did intertaine her in most louing and friendly maner making her the best welcome that might be imagined Count Lodowicke brother to the Prince of Orenge who attended her was likewise verie honourably receyued by the King who promised him to ayde the Prince his brother agaynst the Spaniard and for that purpose had commaunded preparation to be made both by sea and land as though he had entended to begin the warres with all speede so that the King desired nothing more then to aduaunce the affayres of the Protestants The marriage of the yong Prince of Barne and the conquest of the lowe Countreys were the things that the King seemed to affect most And because the Admirall was a verie wise man an olde Souldiour the best experienced Captaine of all Fraunce and most skilfull in warlike affayres The King sent the Mareschall Cossy to Rochell to perswade with him to come to the Court and to assist his soueraigne in so honourable an enterprise the Admirall at the first was very vnwilling of himselfe and had dayly aduertisements to disswade him from that voyage The admiral goeth to the Court. But after many perswasions vsed by the Mareschall sundry friendly messages from the King and his fatall mishap as it were leading him thereunto he suffred himself to be gained and to be wooed by those who indeed loued him but a little He was no sooner come to Paris but the people flocked togither to see him His entertainment as to see a wonder The King receyued him with much kindnesse giuing him great honour calling him father at euerie worde And when the Admirall kneeled the King arose and tooke him vp protesting that he was the most welcome man liuing and that neuer any day was more ioiful vnto him then that wherein he did see the end of so many miseries and the beginning of peace and quietnesse for the whole lande And among manie other speaches hee chaunced to vtter these words Nowe we haue once gotten your companie you shal not depart from vs and this hee vttered with great laughter as a token of much ioy and delight The Queene mother his excellencie the Duke of Alenson and all the principall Courtiers welcomed him with farre greater honour then he expected and that which was more all these curtesies were accompanied with the great liberalitie of the Prince who gaue him an hundred thousand pounds in recompence of his losses sustained in the former wars besides the reuenues of the benefices which were belonging to his brother Odet the Cardinal of Chastillon who was lately deceased in England He was also admitted into the Kings priuie Councell His sonne in law Teligny was verie much honoured Cauagnes was made one of the maisters of the requests and to be short all the Admirals friends tasted of the kings liberalitie to the great contentment of the Protestants and the maruellous grudging of the Catholiques This honourable dealing gaue great hope of the continuance of the peace and the encrease of amitie amongest the French Nation in so much as the most rested secure reposing themselues in the faythfull promises of their prince yet manie suspected that all was but holy water of the Court and alluring baytes to catch the poore Protestants and afterwards to dispose of them as should be thought for their most aduauntage following said they herein the olde maxime in pollicie which is that where the skin of the Lion will not serue there it is best to put on the foxes coat The Queene of Nauarre was earnestly disswaded by sundry letters from many other friends from giuing her consent to the mariage The Admirall was likewise aduertised by secret messengers that in no wise he should go to Paris nor come within the reach of his enemies but all would not serue so desirous were they of the yong princes preferment so maruellously blinded at that instant But whilest the Queene of Nauarre was at Paris busied in prouiding for the mariage of her son she suddenly fell sicke and died the 10. of Iune The death of Ioan of Albret Queene of Nauarre 1572. to the great griefe of those of the reformed religion who exceedingly bewayled the death of so vertuous and constant a Lady and one that had beene a most noble maintainer of the truth all her dayes CHAP. XV. The Massacre at Paris THe sudden death of this Queene bred a sore suspition that she was poisoned and withal brought some delay the to mariage but at length all doubts being cleared both parties agreed the time appointed for the solemnising of the nuptials being come the yong King of Nauarre and the Lady Margaret were affianced with great solemnitie in our Lady Church in Paris by the Cardinall of Burbon the 18. of August 1572. in the presence of the King The mariage of the King of Nauarre the Queene mother the Duke of Aniou and Alenson the Prince of Conde with all the principal protestants The mariage ended there was nothing but banketting chearing tilting and all the deuises that might bee to please the eie and delight the eare to set forth all things in most royall and magnificent maner All old rancour and malice seemed to be buried in the pit of obliuion by reason of this new alliance which confirmed the hope of a most blessed peace in the time to come But in the middest of all this ioy and solace there fell out a sudden accident which astonished some and made others to bethinke themselues and to suspect the worst and that was this The admiral shot with an harquebuz Vpon the 22. of August as the Admirall was going from the Court toward his lodging hee was suddainlie shotte with a harquebuz out at a window of the house where Villemus who had beene schoole-maister to the Duke of Guise did vsually lodge and sore wounded with three Bullettes as hee was going a soft pace in the streete and reading a Supplication which had beene deliuered vnto him a little before One of the Bullets stroke off his fore finger and with the other hee was wounded in the left Arme. The Admirall
and dignitie was mightily shaken and in a maner brought to a Chaos and confusion and hasted as it were a maine pace to a lamentable change and alteration CHAP. XIX Henry the third King of France and Polonia The Queene mother laboureth for peace which is concluded for three moneths The Prince of Conde goeth into Germany Lusignen dismanteled The King of Polonia stealeth away into France The first Ciu ll warres The Mareschall D'Anuill ioyneth with Protestants Cassimer commeth to the ayde of the Protestants The Duke of Alenson departeth malecontent from Court The ende of the first ciuill warres KIng Charles beeing dead and his brother Henry king of Polonia Henry the the King of France and Polonia declared heire to the Crowne during whose absence the Queene mother as is already sayde was proclaimed Regent the Catholikes beganne to insult more then euer before ouer the Protestants and to vse them in most outragious manner presuming vppon the accustomed good fortune of their new king and the resolute course of the Queene mother to roote out all those of the Religion and to expell them out of the territories of the Flower de Lis. The consideration whereof did maruailously dismay many of the Protestants and caused sundrie who inwardly fauoured their proceedings to plucke in their heades and keep themselues close and to expect what would bee the sequell of these newe occurrences There was great dissention at Rochell about these matters and long it was before they would fully determine what to do howbeit at length through the manifolde remonstrances of La Noue they fully resolued to continue the warres both by sea and land as they had doone in former times The Queene mother knowing that the best way to pacifie these tumults and to restraine the Confederates from any further proceeding in the warres was to vse them gently and by smoth words and faire promises to keepe them in vntill the comming of the new king sent the Abbot of Gadagny to Rochell with letters to La Noue The Queene mother writeth to La Noue in which among other things hee exhorted him to liue peaceably like a good subiect and not to vex the land with newe troubles in the absence of the king who peraduenture would bee reuenged thereof at his comming although shee knew that naturally hee was a very milde and mercifull Prince and one that would maintaine his subiects both of the one and the other Religion in peace and amitie so farre forth as possibly hee might had alreadie signified the same as well to her selfe and the principall officers of the Crowne as to sundry the greatest and cheefest Citties of the land These letters with sundrie perswasions vsed by the Abbot enduced the Rochelers to conclude a truce for three moneths The Rochelors conclude a peace for three monthâ— Mention was made before of the purpose of the Duke of Alenson and the king of Nauarre to depart the Court to ioyne with the Confederates which albeit they attempted not beeing diuerted there from by the councell of some of their friendes yet the late King had them in great ielousie and therefore kept them in a manner as prisoners setting spies to watch them and their actions and for that hee suspected the two Mareschalles of Memorancy and Cossy to bee of their confederacie hee imprisoned them in the Bastile within the Louure and discharged the Mareschall Danuill brother to Memorancy of his Lieutenantship in Languedock giuing it to the Prince Dauphin sonne to the Duke Montpencier and albeit the Prince of Conde Meru Thore the vicount of Turin Montagu and many others were secret fauourers of his excellency in this action yet for that they were not discouered the king suffered them to remaine at their libertie and sent the Prince of Conde into Picardy to looke to the gouernement of that Countrey The Prince of Conde sent into Picardy from whence he secretly conueyed himselfe into Germany who beeing aduertised of that which had passed at Court touching the Duke and the King of Nauarre and that there was a purpose to clap him vppe likewise secretly conuayed himselfe into Germany and forwith made profession of the Religion and so practised with the Princes and the rest of his friendes in that Countrey that hee leauied a great power of Reisters for the ayde of the French Protestants which when the Mareschall Danuill vnderstood hee beganne to drawe neere to those of the refourmed Religion then hee was accustomed to doo and finding many discontented pollitikes readie to ioyne with him resolued from that time forwarde to follow the matter with more earnestnesse and to further their cause all that euer hee might Henry of Burbon Prince of Conde accompanied with many of the Nobilitie of both Regions beeing at Heppenhem in Germanie and seriously busied in gathethering of forces to enter France for the releefe of his associats was enformed of all the Proceedings as well of the Protestants as of the Mareschall Danuill and the rest of the discontented pollitikes and vnderstanding that he was chosen generall ouer both sorts accepted thereof promising to employ all his credit power and authoritie to maintaine them against all their enemies vnder the obedience of Henry the third of that name King of Poland and of France Which when the Queene mother vnderstood shee thought it best to offer a treatie of peace and to holde all sorts in quietnesse vntill the comming of her Sonne out of Polonia whose presence shee supposed would bee a sufficient weapon to fight against all these practises and deuises Hereuppon she wrote letters to the Confederates and especially to the Rochelors to mooue them to embrace this negociation of peace whereby they themselues might liue in greater securitie The Queene mother moueth a peace and the whole Lande bee freed from ciuill and intestine warres They returned a dutifull answere desiring her maiestie to deale with the Prince of Conde who was elected the cheefe of the reformed Churches and to whome vnder the Kings obedience they hadde submitted themselues and in the meane while furnished their Citties with all necessaries for theyr better safetie With which answere the Queene mother beeing nothing well pleased sent the Duke Montpencier into Poictou with very great forces who hauing taken Maraus Noille Noue Charante and diuers other strong places planted his siege before Fontenay a Towne of very great importance which in the ende hee tooke by composition and so gained all base Poictou to the exceeding preiudice of the Confederates Hee likewise besieged Lusignen which beeing valiantly defended by the Lord of Fontenay held out for a long time yet yeelded at the last vppon reasonable conditions after it had beene besieged three moneths and twelue daies hauing lost some three and twentie Gentlemen and two hundred common souldiers Lusignen dismanteled the Catholikes spent seauen or eight thousande cannon shot and left some eight hundred of their men dead before the Towne to make satisfaction to
for by reason that Captaine Rochmort who had surprised the saide Castle was slaine with a shot out of the Towne as hee was leaning in his chamber window the Castle was rendered again vpon composition made sure for the League as it was afore time The Prince beeing ignorant hereof passed the Loyre with all his troups which were some eight hundred horse and almost a thousand and two hundred harquebuziers on horsebacke conducted by the Lord of Nemours Lauall Trimouille Boâ—lay Saint Gelais Aubigny Ouches Rohan Touche Flesche and sundrie others The Lord Clermont had likewise gathered a great companie of horse and encamped himselfe with the Prince neere vnto Angiers These companies approching the Towne expected some signall from the Castle whereby they might vnderstand that it still held for the king of Nauarre but they were certified that the saide Castle was yeelded the day before into the handes of their enemies and therefore that it was lost labour to stay there any longer Which newes greeued the Prince exceedingly made him with the rest of his councell to fall to consultation how they might safely get backe ouer the Loyre and free themselues out of that danger which then appeared before their eies and for that they knewe well inough that both the kings forces and the Leaguers were vp in all quarters and hasted by all possible meanes to encounter them they retyred towards the Loyre with a purpose to returne the same way they came The Lord Lauell beeing the formost got ouer without any danger but before the comming of the Prince all the passages were seised by the enemie and the prince was aduertised by many messengers that either hee must resolue to open his way by the sword or else to hazard himselfe at al aduenture through the Countrey of Beause The Prince approching the danger The great distresse of the Prince and the rest of the Protestants that were with him and thinking that in either of these there was but hard choyse called a Councell but by reason of the diuersitie of opinions it was long before any thing could be concluded at length it was agreed to passe through Beause Then euery man prepared himselfe towardes that desperate iourney and marching toward Luche in Aniou purposed there to passe ouer the Loyre vpon the Bridge but the Riuer was so risen that there was no passage without imminent perill From thence therefore they went to Lude and so to Prillay Vandeloyre S. Arnol where they heard newes that the Duke of Espernon and the Mareschall Biron were at Boneuall in Beausse with great forces readie to fight with the dismayed multitude that the Duke De Mayne as on the other side of the Loyre neere vnto Bloy readie to cut off such as should fortune to passe that way and that all the Countrey was full of strong garrisons attending with great deuotion to make a pray of the Prince and that handfull of men which did accompanie him so that it seemed the further they went the neerer they approched their destruction and hauing with their long and laborious marches wearied themselues and tired their horses they did vtterly dispaire of any good successe In this great agony they iourneyed on and euerie day receiued more vncomfortable newes then other wherewith many supposing that all was lost secretly disbanded from the grosse of the Armie and repaired to such friendes as they had in the Countrey The Prince and the rest of the Nobilitie were wonderfully perplexed and knew not what course to take at length they resolued to diuide themselues into seuerall companies some going one way and some another the Lord Rohan with many Gentlemen in his retinew went towards Britaine Saint Gelais went towards Vandosme the Prince the Lords of Trimouille and Auantigny with some of their principall seruants betooke them to their fortune as well as the rest and hasted to get into some place of greater securitie The laborious and tedious trauaile of this noble Prince his wearisome courses his long Caualcados his great and perilous dangers hee escaped before he gat to that Iland of Gernsy would require a long discourse were sufficient for a whole volume As soone as the cheefetaines were thus dispersed the common souldiers were quickly scattered some tooke their way towards Orleance some towards Nomandy and some towards Mayne and to bee short euerie man went which way hee liked best trauailing in exceeding great feare hauing as they imagined neither meanes to escape nor force to resist but were readie euerie minute to fall into the hands of those who did wholly pursue them The Prince of Conde with the cheefest of hiâ— troupes arriued at Rochell much about one time and thirsted for nothing more then for their bloud but when all hope failed God did miarculously deliuer them and so deliâ—ered them in theyr iourneyes that hauing auoyded a million of more then apparent perils they all arriued at length at Rochell and that much about one time to the exceeding comfort of themselues and the wonder of all France CHAP. XXII The cruell Edicts of the King against the Protestants The number of the Popish Armies which were ouerthrowne in one yeere The villanous dealâ—ng of the Guyse The battaile of Coutras WHilst the Prince of Conde and the rest of his distressed Armie made this hard shift for themselues the Duke de Maine The Duke de Maine made captaine generall ouer the forâ—es of the Popish Clergy whome the League had procured to be appointed generall by the Kings authoritie ouer a mightie power maintained at the cost and charges of the Clergie of France bestirreth himselfe and seeketh to annoy the protestants as much as might bee but by reason the Vicount of Turin opposed himselfe against his proceedings with an army of sixe thousand men hee did no other harme but gat some fewe Townes which were of no great importance The League not prospering so fast as they desired by force of Armes caused the king who was nowe solde ouer to worke his owne confusion and the vtter ruine of his Realme and States The cruell Edicts of the king to make many cruell Edicts against those of the Religion notwithstanding all the pacifications and graunts of former times and they were commanded to auoyde the Realme within fifteene dayes otherwise there was libertie giuen to persecute them to death to seise vpon their goods lands and linings and to employ them to the kings vse The king of Nauarre knowing that all this was doone by the procurement of the League and the Popish Clergie seised likewise vppon all the Landes and goods of such as were either Leaguers or fauourers of that factious and rebellious multitude The seuere proclamations made by the king against those of the Reformed Churches wrought many lamentable effects in the Land Some who made profession of the Gospel recanted and turned to Poperie and because they would not bee suspected on any dissimulation they became earnest persecutors of
who continuallie incensed the King agaynst the Hugonots and after the confusion and ruine of all his former Armyes perswaded him to assayle those of the Religion in Guyen with newe forces vnder the conducting and leading of Duke Ioyense for that it was thought that the Mareschall Biron was of too milde a nature and had dealt somewhat too fauourably in his late voyage Thus Duke Ioyense being armed with the Kings authoritie The Duke Ioyense sent against the Protestants and ayded with a mightie power inuaded Guyen where he tooke sundry townes as Mote Saint Cloy Saint Mexent Tonnay Charauty Maylezay and some others but the plague encreasing among his souldiers he was forced to breake vp his campe and to disperse his forces and hee himselfe posted to Paris to the rest of the principall Leaguers The King of Nauarre vnderstanding of his retreate set vpon his stragling troupes killed many tooke sundrie prisoners and in a short space recouered all that had beene lost Thus the Leaguers had caused the King to spend much money about nought intending thereby to weaken him and strengthen themselues for by this meanes they were still in authoritie and did in a maner what soeuer they lifted empouerishing their enemyes and inriching theyr friends as the readyest way to effect that which they had long before determined to accomplish About this time were the Germains readie to march towards France The great preparation of the King to withstande the Germans whereof the King being aduertised he prepared three seuerall Armies with the which he ment both to defend himselfe and to offend his enemies The duâ—e of Guise was made generall ouer the first wherin were 23000. French men besides 400 Launces 2000. Italians and sixe hundred light horse sent to him out of the low Countryes by the Duke of Parma All which were appointed to barre the Germaines out of Lorraine if it were possible or else to hinder them that they should not passe through Champaigne The King led the second army into Berry wherein was 88. companies of men of Armes ten thousand French footemen 12000. Switzers 4000. Rutters 12. double CanoÌ„s 2000. pioners with which power the King determined to keepe the Loyre The duke Ioyense conducted the third army against the King of Nauarre to keepe him occupied and to withhold him from ioyning with the Germaines The battell of Contras The King of Nauarre gathered as great forces as he could and being accompanied with the prince of Conde Count Soyssons the Lord Trimouille the vicount of Turen and many other honorable estates hasted to incorporate himselfe with his strangers vsing great speed gat ouer the riuer of Droune where the duke Ioyense had intended to stop his passage and so marched forwarde purposing to lodge at Contras The duke supposing that the aduauntage was his for that the king of Nauarre was weake in power inclosed between two riuers so that he could not escape without fighting as one desirous to do some notable exploit resolued to trie his fortune by some generall fight Whereupon hee tooke his place for the battell neare vnto Contras The King of Nauarre was glad of the Dukes resolution and hauing disposed all his troupes in very warlike manner wayted his best oportunitie to begin the battell About eight of the clock in the morning the Artillarie on both sides began to play And for that the king of Nauarres Ordinance was commodiously placed it did maruellously endomage the Dukes men of armes which stood at his right hand as also the regiments wherwith they were flanked for their better assurance wherewith when many were rent and torne in peeces the rest resolued rather to charge then to die so miserably without any further fight The harquebuziers came no sooner in reach each of other but they powred out their shot as thicke as haile each partie endeuoring to do well and to annoy one another to their vttermost The king of Nauarre had diuided his horsemen into foure squadrons the first was led by himselfe the second by the Prince of Conde the third by the Count Soysons who stood on the left hand of the king and the fourth by the vicount of Turenne who was at his right hand equally aduaunced with the formost These standing still beheld the skirmish of their footmen vntil the duke hasted to the generall onset then these three Princes of the blood euerie one in the front of their regiment began to change their pace into a trot and so into a gallop giuing such a furious charge vpon their enemies that they wholy defeated them and hauing killed a great number the rest betooke them to flight The footmen seeing their horsemen ouerthrowne lost courage and ranne away for company then was the mortalitie great for the Protestants pursuing them committed a maruailous carnage among them that fled There was slaine the Duke of Ioyense D. Ioyense slâ—ine and his army ouerthrowne generall of the armie and Saint Suuer his brother Bressay Rousay count Suxe Count Ganeto Count Aubiyon Fumel Rochford Neufny Gurats Saint Fort Tercelin maister of the campe Chesner and Vallade besides many other Lordes and Gentlemen of marke Bellegard Saint Luc the Marques of Prennes Count MoÌ„soreau Sansac Cipierre Santray Montigny Villecomblim Chasteaurenauld Parriere Chasteauueulx Chasteloux and Auuerdiere all captaines and commaunders were taken prisoners Diuerse Castels and strong holdes were presently yeelded vnto the king of Nauarre and a verie great feare possessed the hearts of the rest of his enemies CHAP. XXIII The great armâ—e of the Germaines ouerthrowne The death of the Duke of Bonillon The Guises slander the King The Leaguers besiege the Duchesse of Bonillon Their ouerthrow The Prince of Conde poisoned The Parisians rebel against the King The King flieth to Charteres The Guisards vow to kill the King THe French King 1588 The army of the Germains commaunded by the Duke of Bonillon and Duke of Guise were all this while verie busie in prouiding of all necessarie meanes to withstande the Germaines who still came on forwardes Their armie consisted of fiue thousand Ruttars fiue thousand Lancequenets sixteene thousand Switzers with whom were ioyned foure thousand French harquebuziers and three hundred French horse The Lord Mouy brought also two thousand French harquebuziers on horsebacke the Lord Villeneufe one thousand and the Lorde Louers one thousand The Lord Chastillon likewise ioined with them with one thousand fiue hundred harquebuziers and two hundred horses The whole number came to some thirtie fiue thousand besides the companies brought by the Prince of Contie They had sixteene peeces of great Ordinance with store of all warlike munition The general of all these was the Duke of Bonillon who commaunded as Lieutenant for the King of Nauarre This mightie and puyssant armie was the terrour of the League and the hope of the Protestants but the expectation of both was disappoynted for after that the Germaines had marched through Lorraine and were gotten into Fraunce as
but that he perswaded himselfe that seeing his brother was dead The duke de Maine rebelleth aga nst the King he might now peraduenture obtaine the Crowne for himselfe if hee would lay in for it for hee had a great power in a readinesse and no doubt but the most of the Leaguers woulde followe him for feare least if they shoulde fall into the Kinges handes hee woulde punish them according to theyr deserts With this resolution hee left Dauphiny and hasted into Burgundie and Champaigne taking with him such strength and power as hee could get and making sure as manie places as hee coulde come by prepared to make warre agaynst the king Paris which was the capitoll Citie of the whole kingdome and had more fauoured the Guise then anie other was mooued to great indignation Paris and the rest of the principal Cities rebell against the King and shewed it selfe highly offended And being further incensed with the piteous outcryes and lamentable complaints of the Duchesses of Guise and Nemours and with the inuectiue Sermons of the Iesuites and Friers grewe into a desperate madnesse shaking off the yoake of obedience and rebelled openlye agaynst theyr naturall Prince and liege Lorde Most of the greatest rychest and strongest Cityes as Orleance Roan Amiens Aniou Lyons Abeuille Remes Tholous and manie others followed the example of the Parisians and conspiring with the rest of the Leaguers imprisoned the Kings friendes seyzed vpon his strong holdes robbed him of his treasure and vsed him in all outragious and rebellious maner The King vnderstanding of all these seditious sturres sought by faire meanes and in gentle maner to reduce them to their obedience sending out his proclaimations to pardon whatsoeuer was past and to burie it in the graue of obliuion so that they woulde lay downe their Armes and liue peaceablie vnder his authoritie The seditious diuinitie of the Sorbonists as in dutie they were bound but they made no reckoning of the Kinges clemencie but tearmed it cowardlinesse as though hee were afrayed of their forces beeing animated by the Sorbonists and their Doctours in Theologie who had resolued that they were set free from theyr oath of obedience and former allegiaunce made vnto Henrie the thirde And that it was lawfull for them and for all the residue of the people of Fraunce to take Armes agaynst the sayde King Henrie and to persecute him and all his adherents with fire and sworde as enemyes to God to their Countrey and to holy Church When they had once gotten this aduauntage that they were able to colour their proceedings as it were with an oracle from heauen they made no more conscience at the matter The duke de Maine made general of the Leaguers but presently determined to choose them a Generall for the leading of their forces and to establish a new Councell by whose direction they might manage the rest of their affayres They refused all the Princes of the blood and chose the Duke de Maine who was a man much fauoured of the leaguers The leaguers appoint a councell of state and one that was well acquainted with all their practises The Dukes of Aumaile and Nemours with the Cheualier of Aumaile were made gouernours of Paris There were also 47. of the most seditious turbulent factious and bitterest enemies to the King appoynted to order the state as the kings priuie councell had done in former times These had no sooner gotten this authoritie into their handes but they committed most horrible outrages against all such as they suspected to be the kings friends imprisoning murthering robbing sacâ—ing and spoyling them in such sort as was neuer heard of within any mans remembrance and going to the royall pallace called the Louure they seyzed vpon all the kings goods The leaguers notorious disobedience they violated the great Seale of France brake it in peeces and trode it vnder their feete They rent and tore the Armes of Valois and Burbon and trayled them in most despitefull manner in the mire and dyrt through the Streetes and assembling as manie of the principall Leaguers both of the Nobilitie Cleargie and Communaltie as they coulde wrote to other Cities theyr Confederates to follow their example and to ioyne with them and also to procure as manie partakers as they might the better to countenance their proceedings The king had often and very seriously disswaded them from this seditious course and with all lenitie sought to reduce them to their former obedience but considering that he preuailed nothing by gentlenesse and clemency but rather that the people waxed worse worse he therfore now determined to take a sharper course and by force to bring them vnder his obedience but fearing his owne weaknesse and want of sufficient power to bring his purposes to passe for that he was as it were coÌ„passed about with his enemies not knowing what to doo or whome to trust The king maketh peace with the 〈◊〉 of Nauarre perceyuing that the most of those who were about him were fauorers of the rebels hee was content to follow the aduice of his most trustie councellors and to make peace with the King of Nauarre and to vse his counsal and forces for his iust and lawfull defence and the rather for that the Duke de Maine approched verie neare vnto him with a great and puissant armie Thus was the king for the safetie of his person forced to cast himselfe into the armes of him whom for manie yeares hee had reputed for his mortall enemie and glad to seeke to be preserued by such an one whose destruction he had sought with all extremitie The King of Nauarre being aduertised of the Kings intent and solicited by sundry messengers to come to his ayde with all expedition called his Nobles and Captaines and gathered all his forces together and passing ouer the Loyre at Samnur went towards the King who was greatly distressed at Toures and in imminent perill to bee oppressed by the Leaguers The meeting of the King of France the King of Nauarre The King vnderstanding of his approach the thirtie of Aprill sent the Mareschall Haultmont accompanied with a great number of the Nobilitie to desire him to come to Plesis de Tours where hee with all his Court staid for him The King of Nauarre readily obeyed passing ouer the bridge of Saint Saphorin where hee left all his forces in battaile array and went towardes the King whom hee sound staying for him in the Parke of Plessis There was such a concourse of people and so great a throng that the two Kings were forced to stay aboue halfe a quarter of an houre stretching and holding out their hands before they could embrace one another so great was the prease and such a multitude were slocked togither to beholde this ioyfull and blessed meeting The kind embracings and louing salutations betweene these two Potentates did euidently declare their inward ioy contentation The reioysing of all sorts was incredible