The Protestant Army under the command of the Prince of Conde and Admiral lodged about Dreux being a Town twenty six Leagues from Paris and situated on the confines of Normandy in which place on a Plain the 19. of December they joyn Battel The Kings Army was reckoned to be nineteen thousand foot and two thousand Horse The Prince of Conde's Army consisting of twelve thousand Foot and four thousand Horse And now the Battle of Dreux begins where the Admiral of the Protestants with great courage leading the Van fell upon the Kings Cavalry commanded by the Constable and at first onset slew Gabriel de Momorancy and laid dead on the place Count de Rochefort the whole cavalry running away The Constable taken prisoner the Constable himself taken Prisoner and the Duke of Nevers Monsieur de Givry d'Annebault La Bross and his Son with many other Gentlemen and Cavaleirs slain upon the place The Duke of Aumaule Brother to the Duke of Guise and Beauvais were wounded Now the Princes forces being in a too eager pursuit of the Enemy was furiously set upon by the Duke of Guise where after a furious on set and doubtful shock on both sides endured at last the Prince of Conde was taken Prisoner Prince of Conde taken prisoner and on the Kings side was taken Monsieur d'Anvelle being sore wounded which the Admiral perceiving rallies and advances but the former encounter so wearied and weakned his men that after a sharp conflict he was put to the worst and so made an honourable retreat In this encounter was slain on the Catholike party the Marshal de St. Andre The same night all the Army of the Protestants were met together where the Admiral by general consent was chosen General of the Army instead of the Prince of Conde Prisoner Both Armies leave the field the Duke of Guise by the speedy advance of night upon him was forced to lodge upon the Plain at Blainville where the Prince of Conde and the Duke of Guise two mortal enemies both supped and lay in one bed together The next morning after Battle the Admiral presents himself with his Army in the field in Battalia There was in this battle slain seven thousand whereof on the Protestants two thousand foot and one hundred and fifty horse and doubtless it was a dubious engagement for had the Protestants carefully maintained their first encounter in an orderly station they had not been so assailed and foyled at last but Victory had crowned their valour without hazard of doubt but however the Battle proved fatal to the Catholicks and famous to both in that both Generals were taken Prisoners And as the Admiral was chosen General so for the Catholicks was the Duke of Guise General in lieu of the Constable prisoner The Duke of Guise hereupon suddenly marches to lay siege â—o Orleans The Admiral proceeds to the Resolution before determined The Admiral marches for Normandy and keeps his march for Normandy but before their March takes Selles in Bervy St. Aigna Sulli upon Loire and Montrichard and so leaving the care of Orleans to his Brother D'Andelot he advances towards Normandy to meet with Queen Elizabeths supplies and so to come with more strength to annoy the Catholicks and assist his Friends The Duke of Guise with the Kings Army layes siege to Orleans On the fifth day of February the Duke of Guise lays siege to Orleans where the King and Queen Mother came in person D'Andelot was Governour of Orleans who was also assisted with Monsieur de St. Cyr the Sieur de Avaret Bussay Duras and Bouchavanes under whose command were fourteen companies of foot consisting of Germans and Gascoins with five Troops of French Horse that were old Souldiers to whose valour was joined for assistance the unanimous consent of the Citizens to withstand the enemy whose harmonious and joint resolutions for defence of Religion and Liberty did strive to out-vy the Souldiers valour and thus being resolved to dy in pursuit of so good a cause they encourage one another to repulse the enemies assaults The Defects of the Town-walls being supplyed with Resolutions which made weakness impregnable and stood as a Rock against the strongest shock of the enemies force Now the Duke with the whole strength of his Army sets upon a Fauxburg of the City and suddenly surprizes it the first day The Duke of Guise threatens to destroy men women and children in Orleans but is himself cut off which so encouraged the Catholick party and especially the hot spirit of the Duke of Guise whose inveterate malice could not be contained in the bounds of moderation or secresie but openly delivers it by word of mouth and writes by Letters to the King boasting that twenty four hours should not pass so sure as he would in the same compass force the City to his obedience And further declared The day should be made memorable by destroying both men women and children sparing none But behold his hellish rage was confined by a judgement from Heaven whose death was not much unlike our late Duke of Buckingham for the same night there was a young Gentleman descended of a noble family known by the name of John Poltrat Sieur de Merebourn who being mounted on a Spanish Jennet and watching his own opportunity did by his proper and private motion shoot the Duke of Guise into the shoulder with a Pistol laden with three bullets and so this wretched enemy of God and the poor Protestants dyed the four and twentieth of February who by Gods justice was deprived of his unjust and bloody intentions the said Poltrat being afterwards taken and executed did freely declare at his death that what he did in destroying the Duke was to deliver France and especially the City of Orleans from his violent and bloudy threatnings The Admiral returns from Normandy and with his Army enters Orleans This accident in the Kings Army stopt their furious assaults till the seasonable advance of the Admiral from Normandy with Supplies which made a full stop in the siege who after he had greatly annoied the Catholicks in Normandy came to Orleans the 17. day of March and enters the City where was Prisoner the Constable General of the Kings Army taken at the Battle at Dreux and in the Kings Army was the Prince of Conde Prisoner Now the Kings Queen Mother with the Privy Counsellours and Deputies of the Court of Paris were about to arraign the Prince of Conde which being ballanced with a fearful expectation of the like to the Constable they let their resolutions fall A Treaty begun and finished with the Edict of January for liberty granted The Queen Mother at this time fearing the issue of War and seeing success alike to both doubted her desired expectation would fall by reason of the unexpected and constant supplies the Admiral had on all straits she therfore enters on the Old Way Her only way making use of that Proverb VVhere force will
fill his Gorget the Protestant Army forced to retire and run down his male At last the Protestants Army being worn out with a tedious march was forced to retreat and with the Prince the Count of Nassaw Count Volrade all which without any disorder meet that night at Partenay the K. besieges St. Jean d'Angeli which brav Pilles did keep After this bloody Battel the King Queen Mother and Duke of Anjow sit down before St. Iean d'Angeli which was kept by that famous renouned commander Armand Sieur de Pilles whose same spread it self throughout all France by his stout resistance of the Kings power and valorous keeping of the place for against the continuall assaults of the whole Army His excesding valor his brave Soldiers kept it for two months and one time in this seige a truce was made that if in certain dayes relief came not they should yeeld on conditions Relief by a handsome policy the day comes and St. Severin with forty horse deceives by policy the sentinells and Kings Army and as friends passe all to the relief of the Place After many bloody assaults and great loss to the Kings Army the place not able any longer to continue did at last deliver up on honourable rearms Yields on honourable terms To depart with their Goods Arms Horses and ensignes displaied and for four months should not carry armes in defence of the Protestant religion But as Monseiur de Piles made his seige famous so the Catholicks made themselves infamous But dishonourably kept by the King by his Majesties breach of faith given for as they advance to receive the articles of the Kings promise and their own deserts they are spoyled of Armes Apparell and Monies rob their baggage take away their Horses and spoil their Men. Nay a Regiment quartered at St. Jultan halfe a League off under the command of Sarrien fals on Beats Kills Murthers and destroyes many They are murthered casts some into the River and he that can make a safe escape to Angoulesme is happy though he have nothing else but his shirt Whereupon Mounseiur Piles was freed from his engagement by a non-performance of the Kings promise 10000. men lost at the siege and five thousand canon shot spent The King lost at this seige Sebastian of Luxembourg Duke of Martignes and governour of Brittain five thousand cannons shot spent ten thousand men of War lost twenty five or thirty Commissaries of the artillery which was slain in their charge many crept away from the Army and such hot service insomuch that the Camp decreased eighteen or twenty thousand men The K. disbands the Army In the year 1570 for many reasons and after much consultation had the King did resolve to disband his army which accordingly was don The Princes Army increases Now the Protestants labour to gather Strength by the Industrious pains of the most incomparable Prince of Navar who passing the expectation of his age presently Armes the nobility and others in those partes on whom his father the King of Navar had great influence by reason of their near alliances and neighbour hood whereby the Princes Army was now again got to such a degree of strength That they were masters of the field The K. Armie meets and Marshall de Cosse General The King seeing things go contrary to his desire and expectation summons his Army together and in regard the Duke of Anjou was sick the charge of the Army was delivered to Marshall de Cosse the Armies never came so neer as to give battel but often skirmishing and little likelhiood there was for the King to conquer the Protestants by force which opinion as it was grounded on good reason so was it increased by newes which came to the Court that Prince Casimir was raising new forces for aid of the Protestant Princes which indeed put the Catholicks in a great doubt and fear of any success against them The K. Cabinet Council meet and plot a peace and ruin together Now begins the bloody game for the King Queen Mother Duke of Anjon and Cardinall of Lorrain meets privately together and according to their disposition and custome fall a ploting holding it the best way when they could not mend it to think of accommodation and giving liberty to the Protestants Who might better have enjoyed it by war than by peace as the Issue proved If it had pleased the Lord to discover the inside of their treachery which though fatal to the poor Protestants yet so dishonourable to the King of France and the French Nation that it cannot but draw down Gods just Judgements upon them The secret Council thought this way of peace might be the quickest and safest way to their designs of destroying the Protestants better than by War for if they could cut off the chief supporters of the Protestant cause the rest would follow and so they aim at an opportunity to gain a peaceable though bloody access to their persons which in time of War their Sword could not reach so by this means hoping to cut off the Root the Branches would wither Indeed it had been well if it had fallen out that the branches had naturally withered but ah sad and doleful we shall see a horrid and bloody Tragedy which will astonish any heart but flint to hear and read this sad and miserable story and truly it makes my heart bleed to think of the sad cruelties and unparalleld massacres of Gods people And now they discover their Inclinations to peace which they knew at all times would gladly be embraced and acceptably welcom to the Protestants if covered with Liberty and Lives the things they only desired For if they had delighted in any thing but Allegiance or fought for any thing but liberty they would not now incline to peace in the midst of their unlimitted power but poor souls they had been far more happy if they had dyed like men in Warr than murthered in their Bods like Dogs This third war was sharp and thought the greatest in regard of the Kings unfaithfull dealing in the breach of his promise that he should give a free liberty for religion and engage to keep it binding himself thereto by Oath yet the same King speedily after breaks all oaths and promises declaring that solemn engagement before God to be void and that what he then promised was not so meant by him and therefore proclaimes it death for any man to professe any Religion but the Romish and Catholick Now the Princes and Admirall in the behalf of themselves and Protestanrs did declare in the sincerity of their hearts that they desired nothing more then the performance of the Kings edict and socurity to enjoy their Liberties Lives and Families Thus having given as succinctly as possibly I can the most remarkable passages of this War we shall now come to the last Tragicall part of the most unheard-of treachery and bloody massacre
their Ruin The Duke of Anjou the Kings Brother commanded Cossin Captain of the Kings Guard to place a band of Souldiers to watch before the Admirals Gate giving strict charge that no Catholicks should enter Now none could be pitched on as the grand Enemy to the Admiral and Protestants and friend to the Guisans than was this Cossin as we shall see by the following narrative The Admirals friends that lay scattered up and down the City were desired under pretence of care and affection to remove their lodging into the same street with the Admiral that they might be sure not to escape Oh! Monstrous and Hellish Plot covered with the Kings care Now the Duke of Anjou as an inheriter of his Brothers Dissimulation strives also to colour his damnable Plot and Treason in the lovingest and highest demonstrations and and care of the Admiral and Protestants and therefore advises that the Admirals friends that now lodged so far distant from his person as the Fauxburgh might have liberty to have their lodgings neerer to him for saies he they being so far assunder they might on any uproar be hurt and no means to prevent it which being neerer one another they might join force to affection and better afford one another their joint aid And so presently commanded the lodgings in that street to be provided Now this was a bait that took off all suspition for alas who could suspect or imagine this to be out of any treacherous intent but rather of care and respect but Oh sad and hellish plot under the vizard of friendship these poor Noblemen Gentlemen and brave Commanders that might have escaped from the calamity are intangled and allured into a narrow street as into a fold or narrow path of destruction no way to escape the fury of their Enemies rage and cruelty All the names of the Protestants and place of abode is taken into a Catalogue against the day of their calamity The next day the Duke of Anjou and Duke of Guise commanded the Undermasters of the streets vulgarly termed Quartermen to take a view of all the Inns and victual-houses from one house to another and to take all the names of the Protestants and so to bring in an Account of their names and places of abode in writing and to deliver them to the Duke of Anjou and Duke of Guise so that presently after the Protestants begun to discover some bloody intentions through the prospect of these preparations Now the King had by this time set a Guard of fifty Harquebuzeirs at the Gate of the Admirals Lodging and great store of Arms were carried into the Loure and about the evening all the people of the City were in arms The Protestants meet advice given to remove from Paris but they still resolve to depend on the K. vows promises Hereupon the chief Noblemen and Gentlemen of the Protestants assemble together again in the Admirals lodging where amongst the rest was the Vidame of Charteres who as before so now advised speedily to try if by any means the Admiral might be forthwith carried out of Paris and that presently the rest should dislodge yet all refused this Counsel resolving to rely on the word of a King sealed with so many Vowes Covenants and Solemn protestations in the presence of God and to the clear witness of all Princes and States The K. and Q. meet and consult of their bloody cutting off the Protestants in a merciless cruelty and devillish massacre In the afternoon the King and Queen Mother walk forth into a Garden named Tegliers accompanied with the Duke of Anjou Gonzague Tavignes and Count de Retz which garden being remote from Resort was thought the fittest place for secrecie and a silent place for privacy and very well fitted for the present conclusion of their last and bloody consultation Here in this bloody Council it was considered of and spoken That the Princes Admiral with the Noblemen and Gentlemen of the Religion were now securely entangled in the Fetters of their own confidence which was so well wedged into their minds as prisons could prove no better instruments to ripen their desires the Admiral he was lying bedsick and could not stir by reason of his wounds the Prince of Conde was fast in the Castle of Loure the City Gates kept shut all night and watched all day those Gentlemen that lodged in the Suburbs were now lodged in the same street with the Admiral and all within the Gates of Paris the rest of the principal Protestants in other Towns were all unarmed and unprepared besides there was not ten Protestants to a thousand Catholicks that the Parisians were in arms and able to make sixty thousand fighting men and that in one hour all might be slain and if these were destroyed they would never make head again in the Kingdom but on the contrary if the Admiral recover such an opportunity would never offer therefore saies the Queen Mother this season must not be lost but taking time by the Foretop all our desires will now come to a period in a success proportionable to all our wishes if we let slip time it withers like a neglected rose on a stalk with a languished head if we shake hands with this golden opportunity our designs will grow under the Sunshine of our desires Thus they lie perdue under the shelter of an unmercifull and bloody Balcony all being resolved to be so swift in execution of the Kings pleasure that no time shall be delayed between his commands and the execution but the moment of performance for now they resolve to take journey from contemplation to action they have learned the Theory of Treachery perjury and cruelty now they come to the practical part of this sad Tragedy But this being a gross and downright murtherous way and no handsome Apology provided to cast over the eyes of peoples understandings it was thought fit to frame some smooth pretext They study a smooth pretext for their bloody cruelty to cosen the vulgar conceptions and honest interpretations But oh who can hide the greatest secrets from Gods searching eye to take off the force and dint of vulgar reports and so to divert the natural current of this tragedy into the illegitimate name of convenient necessity whereupon they order that the common vogue of the peoples tongues should be tipt with this specious pretence that the Duke of Guise and Admirals enmity was the cause of this Massacre They resolve to spare the K. of Navar and Prince of Conde if they will turn Papists Now in this bloody Assembly it was moved whether the King of Navar and Prince of Conde should be destroyed in this Massacre or whether saved the King of Navar in regard of his affinity was concluded to be saved but for the Prince of Conde it was doubtfully carred they considered first whether for his age it were best to spare him or secondly whether to put him to death in revenge of
his Fathers protection of the Protestant cause as also in a hatred of his Fathers name the Duke of Guise urged with a pressing forwardness to have both the Prince of Navar and the Prince of Conde to dy amongst the rest but all thought that too abominable if any thing could be so indeed to such bloodthirsty wretches that two young Princes in the flower of their age of the Royal Family the one in the imbraces of his dear Spowse under the protection of such neer friends and late conjunction by mariage that they should be so miserably destroyed so that the opinion of Gonzague was prevalent who pleaded that with fear of death and torment they should be violently turned to the Catholick Religion The plot is committed to the Duke of Guise to put in execution next day And so this Hellish vaux-like Council broke up with firm and fixed Resolutions to act their several parts and so it was appointed that next morning about three or four a cloak it should be put in execution and that all things should be committed to the mannagement and care of the Duke of Guise On Saturday morning it is bruited and noised throughout all the City of Paris A report is spread that the Duke of Guise was in danger of the Admiral and friends that the House of Gâ—ise was in danger of the Admiral and rest of the Protestants by their great threatenings The Dukes of Guise and Aumale speed to the King and complain of their danger and insolent threatnings of the Admiral and Adherents against their lives protesting sorrow to his Majestie that their services were not accepted but their persons slighted and so desired leave of his Majesty to absent from Court and retire to their houses The Kings horrible dissembling for they were ready to depart the King with a frowning countenance saies Go where you please I will have you at all times if you be found guilty of the Admirals Hurt So with a shew of discontent they mount their Horses and bloody resolutions at once but instead of going home they ly in Paris all night Bloody treachery The King sends the Duke of Guise to provide 2000 men in arms on Sabbath day at night All things being resolved on the 24. day of August being Sabbath day at twilight the Duke of Guise with orders from the King comes to President Charron Provost des Marchands the chief head of the People of Paris giving him to understand that by the Kings command he was fotthwith to provide and order in readiness two thousand armed men which accordingly was done The Admiral having word brought thim that there was great noise of armour The Admirall at the noise of armour fears danger and sends to the King Oh! bloody and cruel command of a King They refuse to let any Protestant Gentlemen to watch with the Admiral The Officers assemble and are commanded by the King to destroy the Protestants whom he calls Rebells and great threatnings heard in all parts of the City and preparations of all things in order for a tumult that night presently he sends word to the King who gave answer that the Admiral needed not fear for all was done by his command and that he had appointed in certain places of the Citie a number of men in arms for fear of any tumult This evening some Protestant Gentlemen profer to watch with the Admiral but poor Gentlemen they were refused A sad presage of Treachery my heart relents and bleeds to write the rest When the Duke of Guise saw all things ready he called to him one Marcel charging him a little after midnight to assemble together the Masters of the Streets commonly called Diziners into the Town House for he was to declare from his Majesty and by his command several things they assemble according to the appointed time Charron the Provost des Marchands guarded with Entrague Puygailart and certain other Guisans did there declare that the King had given him in command to destroy all the Rebells meaning the Protestants to cut off root and branch of that Rebellious race letting them understand that the business was so mannaged to their hands that now with great facility his Majesties desire might be accomplished for the Admiral and all the chief were securely under their power being lodged within the walls of the City that it was first intended they should begin with the Admiral and the principal Protestants lodged in that street and then with speedy alacrity to follow on and to cut off the rest in the City and Suburbs and that the like should be done to the Protestants in all parts of the Kingdom which was in the Kings power for his Majestie would take order that it should be speedily effected The token given to be ringing the great Bell and the murtherers to be distinguished with a Napkin on their arms and a cross on their caps and to begin at the Admirals lodging first Orders given to be couragious in shedding blood Divers Lords guard the King The bloody Murthers assaults the Admiralls lodging Now for better order in this bloody undertaking the token given should be with ringing the great Bell of the Palace called Tocksein at break of day which said bell was only rung on great and emergent occasions and that the distinguishing marks should be a white cross on their caps that candles should be lighted at every window that without confusion or disorder they might proceed from house to house to the exact execution of the Kings command Now the Duke of Guise the better to prepare all things acquaints the Captain of the Kings Guard consisting of Gascoins French and Switzers that they would be in readiness to go on with a bold courage exhorting them to be speedy in bloody executions So at midnight the Provost Sheriffs and Captains of each ward in the City had the same commission given them The Duke of Montpenseir and Duke of Nevers with many other Lords of the Court take arms and being accompanied with their Friends guard the Kings person all the Guards being in Arms at the Gates of the Lour At the Prefixt hour the Duke of Guise the Duke of Aumale and Monsieur de Angoulesm Grand Prior of France the Kings bastard Brother with other Commanders to the number of three hundred went to the Admirals house where they found by the Duke of Anjou's order Cossins company with lighted maches placed for a Guard before it and on both sides the Streets Some of the Gentlemen and Commanders of the Protestants that was lodged in this Street awaken with the noise of men running up and down in arms and lighted Torches they presently got up to enquire what was the matter but alas poor Gentlemen it was now too late they were all dead men no way to escape The Admiral is still perswaded of the K. fidelity repeated his Oaths Promises Leagues Publick Faith sacred respect to the Law of Nations and
unsufferable injuries and cruel murthers were dayly heaped and committed upon the poor Protestants even to the loss of the Estates and Lives of many of their dear friends which opposition was the greater being done by the Kings Liberty granted contrary to Articles of peace and Edict of Pacification promised by Oaths and Covenants therefore though they dayly waited yet now they saw no other way but to arm in their own defence which was the least they could do being tyed by the laws of God and Nature to preserve their Religion Lives and Estates of themselves with their poor wives children and families that else would be left to the power and rage of bloody and deceitful men and that this was their only design of taking arms And further did declare that if they could espy and other way to enjoy their Estates Liberty and Lives they would speedily lay down their arms yet notwithstanding they desired and resolved to continue his Majesties faithful Subjects in obedience to all lawful commands wishing a period to their lives the same moment their obedience ceased if they could but herein see security for enjoyment of their Religion and Lives The Q. of Navars noble Declaration in behalf of the protestants At the same time the Queen of Navar with some dashes of her illustrious pen and a full Testimony of a Christian Resolution does by Letters declare That she could do no less than joyn with the Prince of Conde and Protestants which with the life of her self and children as also the miserable Reliques of the Kingdom of Navar The Cardinal of Lorrain on the one hand and Spaniards on the other did jointly indeavour by force and policy to destroy which was so discernable that all the world was witness to her injuries And indeed this Noble Queen The Q. of Navars high merits in part described would be ecclipsed of her due value by the draught of my rude pen the highest Encomiums will but stain her virtues but to a little belief of her high deserts know only this That her enemies confessed her virtues and Christian valour to exceed the very applause of her Friendly admirers and therefore her deserts was concluded as much undeniable to them as unspeakable by her friends Thus the very beginning of this pretended peace ends in a third Civil War whose effects was as bloody as sharp and at last we shall speedily see in a Tragical Massacre of many thousand Protestants of all degrees and sexes so securely were the Protestants lull'd asleep in their too credulous opinion of the King and Court Now in this Cabinet Council of the Kings was Charls Cardinal of Lorrain The King publishes a bloody Edict that no Religion should be exercised but the Romish on pain of death which cuts off all former promises and Edicts as if they had never been made to be kept Brother to the Duke of Guise a man of a most crafty and terrible nature insomuch that at Rome he was no less reputed for he was a bitter enemy to the Protestants and for the cruelty of his nature was termed the Firebrand of all Civil Flames whose hands being deep in the blood of the Protestants For by his means and the willing mind of the King and bloody Council was published an Edict in his Majesties name levelling the famous Edict of January and enjoyning That none should profess any Religion but the Romish and that it was treason to embrace any other requiring upon pain of death a general conformity to the Catholick Religion Which bloody Edict was accordingly published whereupon all the Protestant Ministers were banished all places of the Kingdom which were in the Kings power The King declares he meant not what be said Oh deep deceit And that the King may stand amazed at this deep hypocrisie this following Sentence was expressed in this Edict printed at Paris And it was further then declared that albeit the King had in many Edicts before that time permitted the freedom of Religion yet his meaning was to retain and cause to be retained of all men the only Romish or Popish Religion within his Realm Which Edict and clause being so wonderfully strange to all that heard or saw it and because it stained the Kings name with the most horrid spot of perjury and breach of faith it was therefore in other impressions afterward printed purposely omitted in the Edict This Edict was published with an incredible confluence of all sorts of Catholicks and received with the highest celebrations of joy as can be imagined and the rather because the Catholicks much doubted of the Queen Mothers intentions in regard of her dissembling carriage to the Protestants and now all was put out of doubt by this Edict Which clearly demonstrates that the King and Queen Mothers intentions all along was to destroy the Protestants root and branch only took their best opportunity to effect their desires with the least noise of suspicion and greatest security to drive the nail home to the head and their bloody Swords to the hearts of the most innocent souls And thus begins strong preparations for a third Civil War for Religion the sad effects whereof we shall peruse in the next chapter CHAP. V. The Contents THe Protestants gallant Resolutions Both parties arm Queen Elizabeth aids the Protestants The protestants take several towns the Armies face one another but ingage not the Battel at Brisac where the Prince of Conde is slain the Prince of Navar and Prince of Conde chosen Generalls of the protestant Army the Admirall and whole Army swears subjection to these two young Princes the Queen of Navar coins money to pay the protestant Army the Princes and Admiral draw their Army into Garrisons the Kings army sits down before Cognac but are valiantly repulsed they take Mucidan put all to the Sword but lost Count Brisac the Duke Deux Pont with 14. thousand marches to join with the Princes but dies himself by the way The Pope sends Forces to ayd the King Both armies engage the Kings Army retires to Garrisons the Princes take in Chastelrault and Lusignan Town and Castle they lay siege to the great City Poictiers the Kings forces besiege La Charite but leave it after the loss of many brave Gentlemen and Commanders the Duke of Anjou besieges Chastelrault but after great loss leaves it the young Duke of Guise advances to Court and his Fathers place at once the Cabinet Council meets the Armies ingage in a bloody Battel the Kings Army besieges Angeli but receives a gallant shock of a resolute defence by that brave Commander Monsieur de Pilles and at last yielded honourably the Kings Army disbands the protestants increase and are Masters of the field The King summons his forces together and gives the command to Marshall de Coss the King Queen Mother and Cabinet Council plot to linck a peace and the Protestants ruin together the protestants at all times willing to embrace a peace the end
from the King and Queen Mother as was not fit to be published The King for a secure mannagement of the Wars against the King of Spain The Kings strange plot to surprize Rochel gave Commission to Strozzi and the Baron de li Guard to rig forth ships from Burgess and Rochel and to surprize any Vessels that were going through the English Seas to the aid of the Duke of Alva in the Low-Countreys the Spanish Embassadour complains hereof but these two Captains had secretly and privately an underhand Commission to seize on Rochel and by open or secret force to get into their power for his Majesty although all was carried fair on against the Duke of Alva The King also gave command to the Admiral to send Espials into Peru and Island in the New found World which being plentiful of Gold the Spaniard had possessed himself thereof and there to attempt what he could against the King of Spain which business according to his Majesties command the Admiral undertook committing it to one of his Gentlemen who with a certain Portugal skilful in those navigations he had joined in Commission The King heaps unexpressible favours on the Admiral and Friends Now the King heaped unexpressable favours on the Admiral Count Rochfoucault and Theligni with the rest of the principal Protestants and chief Noblemen of the Religion for what ever was taken from any of them in time of the Civil Wars was now most lovingly restored by the Kings command and if any one that the King could learn was a friend to the Admiral to him he did shew singular respect even to the height of an unimaginable dissimulaeion He commanded one time to be given to the Admiral one hundred thousand pounds of his own treasury in recompence of his great losses When the Cardinal of Chastillon formerly fled to England disguised and having great Revenues and Wealth his death being known to the King he did give to the Admiral all the fruits of the whole year with all his rich and costly Houshold-stuff and though all former Admirals in Council and publick Ceremonies had ever given place to the Marshall of France yet for the Admirals greater honour it was the Kings will and pleasure that he should sit next Monseiur de Momorancy who was the first Marshall and above all the rest The K. desires the Duke of Savoy to favour the Protestants The King also writes to the Duke of Savoy that for his sake he would please to be favourable to the Protestants under his Dominion it should ly upon him as an acceptable favor It is not to be thought what kindnesses the King shewed to the Protestants even to the great amazement of the Catholicks and rejoicing of the Protestants The K. so far dissembles that by his shew of respects to the Protestants the Catholicks suspect him who poor souls thought all true that he said but this love proved bitter hatred like Judas kiss nay the King did so carry it that the Catholicks began to surmise and say that the King did not only favour the Protestants but would himself turn one shortly And in regard there was a mighty enmity betwixt the Duke of Guise and the Admiral by reason of a report fixed on the Admiral as if he should be an instrument of his Fathers death The Admiral and Duke of Guise reconciled and the Admiral declared not guilty of the Duke of Guises death the King therefore to make up all breaches and in order to a perfect peace he prescribes a perfect form of Reconciliation the foundations whereof was laid six years ago in the Town of Molins where the King summoning the principal estates of his Kingdom did on consultation and deliberation declare and pronounce the Admiral not guilty of the death of the Duke Guise a thing his Majestie was before bound in conscience to do but now was acted and done as a piece of good policy this block being taken away as an advance for the Admiral to the Court. But as we said before the most solemn bond and ty for a secure peace is the Lady Margarite Sister to the King of France to be given in mariage to the Prince of Navar who was Son to the most virtuous Queen of Navar. who also had all the last civil war been General of the Protestant Cause and couragiously defended it to his Eternal Praise which mariage the King did declare That he did it for the effecting and establishing a durable peace and as a signal testimony of his loyall affections to the Protestants And yet in the mean while the Papists in Roan murthered divers Protestants and grievously beat others as they came from a Sermon Many Protestants murthered in Roan And in regard that it was objected That the King of France his Sister was of the Roman Religion and the Prince of Navar a Protestant it could not well be effected to a good purpose To which the King answered he would free her by a Dispensation from the Pope that no Impediment might stand in the way to so great a good as a sure peace betwixt him and his Subjects nothing being more delightful or desired by him As soon as this was spread to the Courts of Forein Princes it did amaze the Popish Party that ever the King should proceed in behalf of Hereticks But on the contrary it did exceedingly possess the hearts of the Prince The K. plot takes effect and Admiral and all forein Princes of the same Religion with exceeding joy being such a large demonstration of the Kings affection and as a Seal of fidelity to all he promised and did also drive out of their hearts all jealousies of plots or secret Contrivances but the Admiral which had most reason and was most backward to believe all reall yet he at this time was now most forward to believe and most ready to be confirmed not only by this but also by a Letter which the King sent him by his Son Theligni The Admiral at last perswaded and deluded by a Letter from the King under the Kings own hand and Seal assuring the Admiral That whatever he should do in the Business of the war in the Low Countries against the King of Spain should be by his Majesty allowed of and ratified as if done by his special command such was his alluring baits and pretences of good will and trust to the Admiral And thus the poor Protestant Princes are too much perswaded of the Kings faith who intended their ruin without remedy we shall shortly see them come to Paris and embrace the mountains of treacherous pretences of faith and affection and so be swallowed up in their Enemies malitious and unparallel'd cruelty for all the huge promises of the Kings stood but as an Earnest till their plot was ripe and then they are more swift to shed blood than real to what they promise and truly such a piece of Kingly tteachery is not in any age to be
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
and doubtless is a firm pledge of the Kings fidelity what can be done more is not all clear from the least suspition of fraud yet he resolved to depart only waited for a fit opportunity to take leave But the Deputies that were sent from the Reformed Churches complained of the cruelties still committed on the Protestants and understanding of the Admirals intentions to depart they apply themselves with all speed to him and delivering him their books and petitions they earnestly beseech him not to absent from the Court till he had pleaded the cause of the Churches and delivered their petitions to the King and Council Hereupon he resolves like a good Advocate to stay a while and plead their cause But there was another great cause of the Admirals stay for there was on arriers to the Ruttiers of Germany great sums of money for their service under the Admiral during the Wars in which he laboured earnestly to effect But oh I tremble to enter into the ensuing narrative so full of inhumane and cruel bloodshed oh that I could enough bewail the sad fate of these poor innocent souls led as sheep to the slaughter to consider that so many brave Commanders that scorned any other death than like Souldiers must now suffer base murthers and bloody slaughters oh lamentable and to be pittied of all Protestants nay and of ingenuous Papists that so many innocent children and women should suffer for they know not what for we shall shortly see all the Protestants of France in mourning and following the Hearse of their own Ruin in the Papists unparalleled crueltie The Admiral coming from Court with a great train of Nobles and Gentlemen is treacherously shot in both the Arms with a Harqurbuss These businesses being the occasions of the Admiralls stay he did on the 22. day of August repair to the Kings Privy Council to effect his desire which day was the fifth day after the King of Navars marriage but about noon returning from the Council with a great number uf Noblemen and Gentlemen reading a petition as he went was shot thorow both arms with two bullets by a Harquebuzier out of a Window who feeling himself shot shewed no alteration of countenance saying only through yonder window it came what kind of treachery is this It was no news to the King to know his will and command was performed The Admiral speedily sends to the King a Gentleman of his company to give notice of it who being at Tennis with the Duke of Guise shewed such dislike as that in a rage he threw away the Racket that he played withall being exceedingly and outwardly vexed and taking with him his Brother in Law the King of Navar he retires into the Castle of the Lour the King swearing and promising to execute such severe justice upon the offenders Deep hypocrisie that the Admiral and all his Friends should think themselves exceedingly satisfyed The King causes the City gates to be shut pretending lest the Murtherer should escape but indeed was lest the Protestants should escape their cruelty The King therefore to delude the Admiral and Protestants caused all the Gates of the City to be shut except two only which were pretended to be open for bringing in provision yet there was careful watch kept by a strong Guard with a colour of singular care of his Majesty to find out the Murtherer and that if he were in the City he might by no means escape but the truth was lest any of the Protestants should escape this cruel plot laid for their blood by getting out of the City or net of destruction the King swearing and blaspheming that he would not by any means that they should escape which had committed such a horrid act those that durst presume to commit such a hainous crime even at the gates of his Royall Palace The Queen Mother also seems discontented for saies she Who would have thought any ones impudence could arrive so high as this affront to the great prejudice of his Majesty and if ever the King suffer this to go unpunished in the end the next attempt will be on his Royal person But alas alas for a King Queen and Court so to dissemble as if there were no God that could see into their hearts and discover to the World that this was done by the Kings special command and commission as we shall shortly see it was Presently after the Admiral was shot some Gentlemen of his retinue entered by force and violence into the house from whence the shot was where they find only the woman of the House and a Boy that was his lacquey which did the deed finding also a Harquebuss lying upon the Table in the Chamber from whence it was shot but the wretched villain they found not for that he was fled out of the back Gate Fresh horses prepared at several gates to speed away the Murtherer with security and so mounted on a Spanish Gennet which was waiting for him he speedily posted to St. Anthonies Gate where another fresh horse assisted his more swift flight and if he had gon to Marcelles gate there was also another waiting for him Now the King to perswade the Princes Admiral and all the Protestants that he was really sorry and how much it was against his will though God knows to his great satisfaction and inward content he commands sundry to post out into all parts to persue him Set a thief to catch a thief The Admiral shews himself a good Christian and patient sufferer Now the Admiral being safely conveyed to his lodging shewed great piety according to his Godly soul filled with grace and prudence most like a constant and true Christian and faithful holy servant of Christ The Prince of Conde and King of Navar had thought to have departed Paris but the Kings carriage levelled all suspitious thoughts and so turned their resolutions to a longer stay at Court Three Judges to examine the murther At request of the King of Navar and Prince of Conde the King to dissemble with more facility did order three principal men of the Parliament of Paris Thuan Morsant and Viol to examine the business whereupon it was found that the House belonged to one Villimure a Priest and Cannon of St. Germane once the Duke of Guise his Schoolmaster and now a retainer under him That the woman that was in the house being brought before the Judges did acknowledge that a few daies before there came to her one Chally once a Master de Hostel of the Duke of Guises house and now Steward of the Kings houshould commanding her to respect much the man that had done the deed and to lodge him in Villumures own bed-chamber in regard he was his Friend Several speeches there was concerning the person that did it some said it was one Manrevel who in the last Civil War traiterously flew his own Captain a most valiant Commander and Noble Gentleman in the Admirals
Army and thereupon immediately fled to the Kings Camp Others said it was Bondot an Archer of the Kings Guard Now when this confession of the Woman of the house aforesaid was brought to the King he commanded Monsieur de Nance Captain of his Guard to apprehend and bring Chally before him but Chally as soon as he heard the stroke of the piece fled into the Kings Castle of the Loure hiding himself in the Duke of Guises chamber but as soon as he heard of the Kings command he fled Now De Nance Captain of the Kings guard being informed of his escape and no doubt was himself the Informer answered that Chally was a Gentleman of good repute and no doubt but on notice given of the Kings mind would appear before his Majesty or the Magistrates The man that shot the Admiral had commission from the K. to do it Ob horrible The Admiral in danger of death desires the K. visit But not to hold the Reader longer I find it recorded by the most exact Narration that it was Manrevel one whom the Duke of Guise had at his request to the King and by his Commission procured to kill the Admiral which at large is fully related in the Civil wars of France The Admiral now wounded and under the Chirurgians hands dressing his wounds commanded his Son Teligny to go to the King and humbly to beseech his Majesty in behalf of his Father to vouchsafe him a visit for that the wounds lately received were likely to terminate his life and put a short period to his daies desiring therefore to see his Majesty and deliver something to his care that might greatly concern his Majesties safety The K. Q. Mother many other visit the Admiral To which the King in his wonted strain of courtesie answered He would perform his request and so in the afternoon the King goes to visit the Admiral taking along with him the Queen Mother the Duke of Anjou the Duke of Monpenseir a most affectionate Servant to the Church of Rome the Count de Retz a great familiar of the Queen Mothers with Chavigny and Entragny both chief Ringleaders in the bloody Butchery following the King no sooner arrives at the Admirals lodging but he lovingly saluted the Admiral demanding kindly and courteously some few questions concerning the state and health of his body to which the Admiral answered with such a Christian mild and sweetly-quieted countenance with Gods dealing as all that stood by admired at his patience The King hereupon seemed to be so much moved that he uttered these words The hurt my Admiral is done to thee but the dishonour to me and swearing a great Oath saies The K. by a deep oath protests to revenge the Admiralls Hurt I swear I will so sharply and severely revenge both this hurt and dishonour that justice shall have no cause to complain nor the World left without example of my integrity to your deserts And so made many Oaths and Protestations of the Resolutions to punish the Offender as also of his great care he had to preserve the Protestants and the Admirals life against all his Enemies but oh these pretences of friendship will at last prove a smiling harlot that whilest she kisses is like Judas to betray The King further demanded of the Admiral how he did approve of the Judges who had Commission by his appointment to examine the business who answered that he could not dislike of his Majesties care and choise yet humbly intreated his Majesty to let it stand with his good pleasure that Cavagnes might be in Council with them but the wrong he told his Majestie he had committed to God yet desired his Majestie would give order for a strict search and narrow scrutinie into the fact which the King again with his usual Protestations vowed to do and to revenge his wrong as much as his own The K. and Admiral being alone the Admiral declares much faithfulness to the King The Queen Mother and her two Sons withdrew and left the Admiral and King alone the Admiral began to advise the King to remember that he had often told his Majesty of the danger that hovered over his head by some persons neer to him and although he was the mark was shot at yet there was no less hanging over his Majesties head and that long ago there was treason plotted against his Life which his Majesty might please to take notice of as friendly advice and to beware betimes And further declared that now God was pleased to give large symptoms of the decay of his earthly tabernacle and he doubted that his good name would be hoysted up to the pinacle of envious slander by his Enemies and that he often told his Majestie the real Authors of all the late distractions of the Civil War faithfully opening the causes thereof and that he took God to be his witness of his faithful and cordial heart to the King and Kingdome and he never yet knew what was in this world dearer than his Countrey and publick safety all which Discourse the Admirall before his death declared to be spoken betwixt him and his Majesty The King desires the Admiral to lodge in the Loure for his security but was indeed in policy to secure his life and level it to his bloody will To all which the King after such answer as he thought fit with a high voice desired the Admiral to take protection in his own Castle of the Loure wherein his security should be equally envell oped with his own and this he wished might be embraced for fear some sudden commotion might happen from the rabble of that mad and tumultuous people which was a speech preparatory for the plot and yet so much were these poor Protestants blinded in their strange belief of the Kings protestations and not suspecting what followed that they never understood the treacherous intent of these prepared Pills of Hellish Dissimulation The Admiral refused his gilded pretexts of love and care for his ruin A great token of of treason The Admiral most heartily thanked his Majesty and excusing his non-acceptance at present till advice had with his Physicians which when he received it was by them all concluded to be not safe in regard the least motion would increase his pain and so it was resolved not to stir The Count de Retz turned to some of the Admirals Friends in the Chamber saying it were to be wished the Admiral would follow the Kings loving invitation to lodge in the Loure for it was to be feared that some sudden tumult might arise that the King might not be able to appease which was no sooner spoken but it deeply penetrated the Admiral and all his Friends and though they had no proof of reason to fear yet the Admiral desired the King to grant him the favor of a Guard The King grants the Admiral a Guard and flatters damnably To which the King lovingly answered He should
have as firm a guard for his person as he desired Further saying that in his safety consisted his own and that he would defend the Admiral as the hall of his eye having in admiration his fortitude and constancy protesting he did not believe so much valorous courage could reside within the brittle walls of mortallity Thus the King Queen Mother and the rest carried it with great signs of reality returning to the Loure committing the care and custody of the Admiral to the Duke of Anjou one of the conspiracy against him The Admiral and Protestants advised to take leave of the Court and their own ruin but they trust more to the Kings promise than their Friends advice But though the Admiral and Gentlemen about him saw not the ecclipse of the Kings treachery through the deep dissimulation of affection yet the Vidame of Charteres a cleer-sighted and wise man through his foresight of a bloody Comet advised the King of Navar the Prince of Conde and the Admiral with the Nobility Gentlemen and chief of the Protestants presently to take leave of their own ruin in time which was both too certainly and evidently hanging over their innocent thoughts assuring them that blow of the Admirals was but the prologue to a more bloody tragedy which could not but speedily ensue But the King of Navar Prince of Conde the Admiral with the rest of the Nobility and Gentry of the Protestants said That they could not but trust to the Kings solemn Oaths his sacred vows and covenants as a secure harbour from all threatning and ensuing storms besides the late marriage was an evident demonstration of the Kings intentions tying at once both affinity to the Protestant King of Navar and security for his promises CHAP. VII The Contents THe King and Queen Mother by Letters let the world know how the Admirall was hurt to their great grief They order a Guard for the Admiral but is such a one as secured the Admiral or any of his Friends from escaping their ruin The Gentlemen of the Admirals Friends lodged in the same Street where the Admirall lodged which was desired in pretence of their security also but proved their secure destruction The names of the Protestants in Paris with their several Lodgings put into a Catalogue The Nobles and Gentlemen of the Protestants meet in the Admirals Chamber and advises to remove for security from the threatnings of an ensuing storm yet resolve to rely on the Kings Oaths and Promises The King and Queen Mother assembles to take order for the manner and time of the Admirals Murther To colour this plot they order that it must be given out That the occasion was through the difference betwixt the house of Guise and Chastillon On Consultation it was resolved to spare the King of Navar and Prince of Conde if they would turn Papists The Duke of Guise and his bloody Followers force a strong report to be spread throughout all the City of their danger by the Admirall and his Adherents and so complain to the King and depart the Court in shew of discontent but privately lie in Paris to prosecute his hellish Plot and the Kings command two thousand men on Sabbath night are commanded by the King to be in arms The King sends word to the Admirall that he needs not fear for all was done by his command Some Protestant Gentlemen profer to watch all night with the Admiral but were refused the Officers of the City Assemble and are commanded by the King to destroy the Protestants The tokens to distinguish the murtherers from others to be a Napkin about their arms and a cross on their caps Divers Lords guard the King all night The bloody murtherers approach the Admiralls Lodging The Admirall is fearful yet often silenced his suspition by as often reiterating the Kings Oaths Promises Leagues Covenants and Law of Nations c. They enter his Lodging kill all they meet with The Admirall rises goes to prayer and commands his Servants to save their lives by flight They get on the tops of houses but are persued and slain They thrust the Admirall through the body beat him on the head shoot him with a Pistol and wound him the third time whereof he dies his body thrown out of the window the Duke of Guise kicks him on the face with his foot They cry out Kill Kill this is the Kings command The Alarum bell rings to a sad and generall Massacre The Admiralls head cut off and sent to the Pope All in the Admiralls lodging murthered among whom two young children of honourable birth Brave Count Rochfoucault basely murthered The Admiralls Son basely slain his Lieutenant fights gallantly for his life but is slain many brave Noblemen and Gentlemen basely murthered they give the plunder to the Soldiers crying kill this is the Kings command They spare neither young nor old but kill women and children and women with child till the very streets are covered with dead bodies nothing to be heard but sad crys and groans of the dying with cruel shouting of the Murtherers The River dyed with blood ten thousand slain this day WE concluded the last chapter with the great preparations of the King Queen Mother and Councfl ro effect their Plot and yet how they coloured all with a distembling carriage of love too and sorrow for the Admirals condition now in this chapter we shall see the saddest massacre that ever was acted by any Prince or in any Place Thus we leave the Admiral basely cowardly and bloodily wounded and knew not how to have justice The K. and Q. Mother write Letters testifying their sorrow for the Admirals hurt and yet done by the K. cōmand and so lay in his wounds expecting death as the inevitable issue of his Enemies cruelty Now we shall further see the Kings dissimulation and treachery for the very same day the Admiral was thus wounded does the King the more neatly to colour his own act of treachery with smooth pretences write Letters to Embassadours of Forein Princes and Letters also to the Governours of all his Provinces shewing How sadly he resented the Admirals hurt how ready he was to execute justice in the punishment of the a Forgetting himself Agent desiring that all the world might know how much b How much it rejoiced his aeart is no errata it did grieve him to the Soul that any such thing should happen And yet he ptesently after declares openly that he was slain by his Command for treason against his person as by other Letters we shall shew in due place The Queen Mother did also write letters to the same purpose But Christian Reader when thou perusest the whole story then wilt thou be able to judge of this deep Hypocrisie before ehe face of God and as it were against the face of Heaven But to proceed The King orders a Guard that the Protestants might not escape their Guard being their Enemies an intended for
the rage of these Tygers so the Suburbs also where was nothing but murthering and all sorts of cruelties committed men women and children rich and poor old and young nothing to be heard in Paris and the Subburbs but a horrible and terrible noise of arms horses and harquebuziers with a doleful sad and lamentable howling and crying of poor souls going to the slaughter and knew not wherefore a piteous complaint of such as cryed to the villains for mercy together with the merciless and cruel shouts of murtherers and bloody Hell-hounds crying kill destroy for the King commands it mixed with the sad groans of the dying that it seemed as if heaven and earth had met together as if the Heavens would have rent with thunder Oh! sad Oh! wretched King to stain thy honour with such perfidious breach of promise to water thy Kingdom with the blood of Gods people and so to dissemble with the world as if dissembling were further from thy thoughts than thy heart from reality Streets and Rivers dyed with blood The Pavement Market place and Rivers were died with blood and it was heard say by the murtherers that they had put an end to that quarrel that neither pen paper decrees of Justice nor open War could accomplish in twelve years 10000. protestants murthered in one day by the K. command About ten thousand souls makes this Lords day famous for ever with effusion of their pretious and innocent blood such as no age or time can parallel for there was at this time in Paris sixty thousand men with Pistols Pikes Poinyards Curtelaces Knives and such other bloody Instruments who run up and down swearing and blaspeming the sacred Majesty of God cruelly massacring all they meet the streets being covered with mangled bodies Gates and doors defiled with blood And yet we see but in part what cruelties were committed if we compare what we have read and what we shall read together For now having given thee a sight of such Treachery Poisonings perjuries Cruelties and damnable dissimulations with the many murthers committed on the Admiral and Friends in Paris I shall endeavour in the next chapter to give a tast of such sad Massacres and cruelties as will affright and astonish the heart of any true Protestant and if thou hast any grain of true Christianity in thee thou canst not but be toucht with a fellow-feeling of these sad and unheard of murthers and crueltys CHAP. VIII The Contents THe King labours to turn the King of Navar and Prince of Conde to the Catholick Religion by threatning of death and promises of Life Their answers Many Gallant and Peerless Commanders hewen in peeces at the Loure crying out to the Kings Oaths and Promises in the Kings hearing That brave and unparalleled Commander Monsieur de Piles basely slain crying out aloud to the King protesting against his treacherous cruelty and perjury Two hundred gallant Gentlemen slain Count de Montgomery and Vidame of Charteres escape to England A Plot against Rochel but prevented La Charite surprized and all the Protestants cut off The murther at Paris renewed next day the bodies of the dead thrown into the River Sein In two daies above ten thousand slain whereof five hundred of Noble blood Gentlemen with many Ladies and Gentlewomen that came to the mariage The King sends by Post to command all the Protestants to be cut off following the example of Paris Three Noble Gentlemen in the Court murthered The strange sad and cruel death of a brave Gentleman Monsieur de la Place Peter Ramus that famous Professor of Logick basely slain A sad yet comfortable death of a Godly young Christian A terrible and unheard-of cruelty committed on a Gentlewoman with child Merciless cruelty committed on a poor child The most Cruel Horrid and unheard of butchery at Lyons not to be paralleled in any age the blood running through the streets reeking hot to the terrour of the Catholicks themselves The Bloody Massacre at Meaux The like sad Massacre at Troys The bloody Murthers at Orleans The cruel butcheries at Tholouse The cruel slaughters and bloody murthering of six thousand Protestants at Roan The Murthers at Angiers A Godly Minister that had laid the first foundation of a Church in Paris is murthered by the Kings command WHilst these sad cruelties were executed at the Admirals Lodging and in the City and Suburbs of Paris Let us now behold with pitty a number of brave Commanders murthered in the Kings Castle of the Loure by the Kings commandement and in his sight For the King of Navar and Prince of Conde did lodge in the Loure with many other brave Commanders which came to accompany the King of Navar and Prince of Conde The K. promises pardon to the King of Navar Prince of Conde if they will turn Papists The first thing the King falls on after his bloody Butchery in Paris was to deal with the King of Navar and Prince of Conde to whom he gave command to be brought into his presence The King told them all that was done that he had now cut off all the instruments of the late Civil Wars and he hoped would prove a prevention of future troubles for by his command the Admiral was slain with his Train and that no less was done in other Cities to all the Protestants but saies he by reason of your young and tender years and neer alliance in consanguinity and marriage therefore it is I desire you should be pardoned but we shall see it on sad terms to these poor tender hearts ready to break with grief at their friends death and their own too sad and rigid fate Poor Princes betrayed by the cruelty of a perfidious merciless King The King tells them their Lives depended on the reforming their Judgements and turning to the Catholique Religion for he is resolved never to have any more than one Religion in his Kingdom and if they embraced not this Snake in their bosome they must be stung with his bloody Sword as the deserts of their obstinacy The K. of Navars answer to the K. of France The King of Navar humbly beseeched his Majesty to remember his Promises Engagements and now the near alliance by mariage lately contracted and not to force him in those things which only he must be accountable to God alone for that he would please rather to imprison his body than his soul and not to force him to make shipwrack of a good conscience by a violent assault Now the Prince of Conde like a resolved Christian also The P. of Conde's zealom answer to the King did with much zeal answer the King in this manner That he having given his Oaths and promlses in solemn and publick Protestations to all of the Religion would not he hoped forget the great ty of performance which all men are bound to observe under pain of Gods heavy Judgements and therefore he wondered his Majesty should so soon be perswaded to break
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
Prison to save the blood yet such was the effusion of Christian blood that it run out of prison streaming down the Gutters of the streets to the amazement of the Popish Inhabitants But now at Orleance the place of the last Treaty of peace and the place where it was solemnly proclaimed with full command for Observation of the Edict At this place I say the Kings Letters came commanding to murther all and happened to come the same day that three hundred were met together at a Sermon whereupon the Maior and Officers commanded the Companies in arms to fall on and to execute speedily the Kings command oh Tyrant and bloody command One of the Murtherers went to a noble mans house inviting himself and his bloody followers to Supper where they were made welcome with good chear no sooner was Supper ended but they blaspheming murthered him and all his family and then plundered his house There were many that lived on the outside of the Town amongst whom was heard such sad murtherings and cruelties that all night long was heard nothing but howlings and cryings of men women and children massacred shooting off of Guns and Pistols breaking doors and rumbling of Carts that conveyed away the dead bodies all which were mixed with the cryes of the bloody Murtherers crying Kill Kill them all and then take the Spoil and thus they continued all the week in these sad and bloody murthers and plundering blasphemously singing in scorn where is now their God On Tuesday they came to a Doctor of the Civil Law who being found in earnest prayer to God they had not the power to kill him only took a little plunder with them next day they came again and views his Library what books they demanded he gave them they told him he must be killed he therefore goes to prayer again and afterwards desired of them that if he must dy to murther him there which they refused they take him and lead him through the Streets and coming to the Schools he desired them to kill him where he taught so many but they led him a little further and so knocked him on the head One that was forced by hunger out of a secret place where he hid himself was presently slain Such as for fear revolted they forced to kill their friends or were killed themselves As soon as the Kings bloody Message came to the City of Tholouse the Gates were presently shut but it pleased the Lord of his good grace and Providence so to order it that the Protestants were gone that morning out of the Ciry to a Sermon and as soon as the noise of the Massacre came to their ears many returned not again to the City But others would venture so far as to go to order their affairs for a Return but poor souls they never returned back for as soon as they came to the Gates they were suffered to enter leaving their swords at the Gates amongst whom was many of great account and on wednesday morning all the poor Protestants were imprisoned with command that none should on pain of death hide any of them Amongst these were six Counsellers which like good Christians encouraged the rest at last they were all brought into one place and so the bloody Murtherers being ready with axes and knives they were one by one destroyed their bodies stripped naked and lay for two daies The six Counsellours being hung up in their long Gowns upon Elm Trees in the Palace yard which would move any one to compassion there being in this City three hundred thus murthered In Roan as soon as the Kings command came there was an infinite number slain in few daies six thousand men besides women whom they used as cruelly as can be imagined their bodies were stript and caried out in carts being put into the pits in great heaps At Bourdeaux as soon as the news of the Massacre at Paris arrived and command from the King to follow their Example The Protestants were boating over the River to a Sermon but orders followed them that they should be apprehended whereupon the Gates of the City were shut yet the Ministers through Gods good mercy and grace escaped and safely landed in England The Governour was somewhat timerous to act the Kings command in such a bloody subjection to cruelty but the Lord Monpessat assured him how acceptable it would be to his Majesty and for their better encouragement he enters the house of the Lord of Obiers and basely murthered him in his own Court And then presently the froath and Scum of the Town assembled and murthered all the rest amongst whom was a Minister that came out of the adjacent Countrey Also there was a reverend old Deacon of a church whom they dragged out of his sick bed through the Streets and so basely and inhumanly murthered As soon as the bloody Message of the Kings cruell command arrives at Angiers they fell on all the Protestants without mercy or pitty to sex or age for no sooner were the Massacres begun at Paris but one Monsorel a bloody and cruel Papist posted and soon arrived with orders from the K. to destroy all he no sooner arrives but desires a speedy conduct to one Masson de Rivers who was a Godly and zealous Pastor of a Church a very able and elaborate Disspenser of the Mysteries of the Gospel and one excelling in wisdom knowledge and learning He it was that laid the foundation stone of the first Church of Christ in Paris This bloody Monsorel meets Mr. Masson's wife at the Door and kindly saluted her demanding where her Husband was she answered in the Garden whither she conducted him who as soon as he commeth to him embraces him kindly saying doest thou know my message and the busmess I come to thee about it is said this villain to kill thee presently for the King commands it and so presents a Pistol to his Breast Master Masson replyed I know not wherein I have given his Majesty such cause but one thing Sir I humbly beg at your hands to give me so much space as to commend my soul to God by prayer which as soon as he had ended this cruel and merciless Tyger pistoled him And so this faithful Servant of Christ fell dead at his feet Not long after arrives another bloody Harbinger from Paris by the Kings Order who drowned many amongst the rest was the virtuous wife of this Godly Minister of Christ Mr. Masson a Christian getting into an obscure place of a Rock the entrance being narrow was after he got in covered with a Spiders web the bloudy Persecutors passing by some of them said it was a fit place for an escape from danger others said can any be here and this Spiders web whole whereupon they departed which may very well be remarkably observed as a special Providence of God CHAP. IX The Contents THe King prolaims pardon to all those that had escaped in Woods and Rocks who no sooner comes home but treacherously destroys
them all in a most cruel manner For thirty days nothing but killing of poor innocent Protestants The Copy of the Kings letters laying the fault of the Admirals death and the murthers on the D. of Guise yet the same day sends Letters to command it to be done and caused all the murthers to be done by his comand both in Paris and all over France The King in Parliament opens his design and acknowledges all to be done by his own command The Kings Speech in Parliament The true Copy of the K. Declaration printed at Paris The President of Parlament congratulates the King for his bloody success The Advocate advises the King to cease the murthers and to colour his crueltits with the name of Justice A Parliament is called and Proclamation is made that all murthers should cease Many gòes to view the body of the Admiral hanging on the common Gallowes The King and Queen Mother goes also but his body over night was secretly taken away and buried so they lost their journey Judges pickt out to condemn the innocent with the pretence of Justice The Admiral dishonoured by a man of straw and Libels printed The King sends to surprize the Admiralls wife but she was fled to Geneva The Admiral a little described Brave Caviagnes and Briquemault tortured to confess themselvs and the Admiral Traytors they shew much Christianity the Judges refuse to sit in judgement against them new Iudges are chosen they are condemned and led to the Gallows their Speech they are hanged in sight of King Q. Mother Prince and Nobles with many thousand Spectators The Man of Straw for the Admiral hanged with them Some Letters collected according to the Original which gives much light to the History and discovers how Queen Elizabeth of England resented the Murther with the General pitty and Dislike of the whole English Court. These cruelties spotted the French Nation with a great Odium among Forein Princes The Duke of Guise his Letter to his Wife intercepted and the Plot discovered The King notwithstanding his former Edicts granted and Oaths to keep his Promises does now proclaim that none should exercise any Religion on pain of Death but the Romish A form of Abjuration sent to those that would come in and forsake the Protestant Religion and when they did they were murthered contrary to the Kings proclamation A true Copy of the Remembrances of the King to all his Lieutenants and Governours of his Provinces with a Copy also for Abjuration NOw when all was murthered that could very well be laid hands on and the King understanding that divers Protestants had in many parts of the Kingdom fled and left their Habitations for security of their Lives He acts the second and worst part of his Devilish Treachery and cruelty for after many sweet baits of inticing and alluring promises for them to come in he at last published Letters and sent Messengers Wherein he shewed The great grief it was to him that so much blood should be spilt in the Nation contrary to his will promising to punish the Actors of such horrid villainies with as much crueltie as Justice could inflict and they deserve And that if the Admiral and his Associates deserved the death inflicted for their treasonable practices yet was it no reason so many innocents should bear part of this punishment that had no hand in the Plot. Now many poor Protestants that had left all and fled into the woods being encouraged by these inticing and fair pretexts returned home especially they that had fled from Diep Roan and Tholouse now we shall see the King like a Thorny Bush to the poor sheep that in a storm they run to shelter and instead thereof are intangled and their wool pull'd off their backs But oh wretched Tyrant and worse King whose furious and bloody mind like an impetuous Whirlewind or Hiricane could not be kept in bounds but ere two daies past he imprisons them all and appoints base fellowes to murther them with cruel Torments And thus for thirty daies together was nothing but horrible slaughter throughout the Kingdom of France insomuch that there were about a hundred thousand little Babes Widdowes and children wel-born that fatherless and Motherless lived long in wandering and beggary And truly that reverend and faithful Servant of Christ did not miss the Mark of the Kings treachery and perfidious dealing when he made this Anagram on his name CHARLES VALOIS Anagram Chasseur desloyall i. e. Perfidious Hunter or Persecutor In this calamity many that would have saved their lives among their own friends could not have the favour nay their own parents refused them others betrayed by their friends and yet it pleased God to move the hearts of some of their Enemies by their high detesting these cruelties and villainies insomuch as they hazarded their own lives to save some of the Protestants Was ever such unheard of cruelties permitted and commanded by any Christian King and Court with such delight of shedding Protestant blood We may say of the French nation as the case here stood as the poor Indian said of the Spaniards The story stands recorded thus A Prince of the Indians being so far wrought upon as to receive baptism at the hands of a Fryer he first questioned whether the souls of such as were baptized went Answer was returned To Heaven then saies he whether must they go too that are not baptized They answer To Hell but he further demanded To which of these two places the Spaniards went Answer is returned To heaven then said the Indian Let me go to Hell if the Spaniards go to Heaven for I cannot believe heaven to be a good place that is a reward for such bloody Butchers and Masters of such unheard of cruelties May we not say so of this sad Massacre of France but I leave the application to the judicial reader The King now fearing the Dishonour of falsehood treachery and perjury and that it might not fix any reproachful blot or stain on the Kings name This King at the same time that he sends Letters through France giving in command to cut off and destroy the Protestants the same King with the same hand and at the same time sends Letters to the Governours of his Provinces wherein he lets the world know that the late mischief in Paris had to his great sorrow hapned by means of the Duke of Guise who having raised the people they tumultuously broke through the Guard which he had appointed for the Admirals safety and with great Fury killed the Admiral and his Friends and that he with the Queen Mother and Brethren were through the danger of a furious multitude forced to retreat for safety to the Lour all which he said was against his mind and will and therefore he desired the Edict of Pacification to be kept inviolable The like Letters he writ to England Switzerland and Germany which because they bear one tenure and pen'd after one manner I have to avoid prolixity
to put in execution the advise of the Advocate being also perswaded to it by Morvilleir a wicked fellow and the first that brought the Priests into the Kingdom of France now it was thought fit to bring to publick Justice those that were taken flying and hiding themselves and so after the usual manner of Judicial proceedings should be examined by chosen Judges cull'd on purpose and so by Sentence condemned that in view of all the world they might receive their execution as the effects of justice and reward of there Treasonous practices The Judges thus appointed was Birage Thuan Limege and Belleuxe who presently gave order for a man of Hay made in shape of a mans body and so to personate the Admiral whom they had murthered and so it was dragged through the streets by the Boreau his memory was condemned and razed out of remembrance his arms and Ensigns of Honour and Chivalry demolished his Castles and Farms razed to the ground his Children pronounced infamous and unnoble and all the trees in his woods to the growth of six foot to be cut down And now to make way abroad in the World in the Court of Forein Princes and Nations for a more neat excuse to their unheard-of baseness They disperse Libells full of dishonour to the Admiral and his Adherents and stuft with the Defamation of their memories and that their Actions might not run in a Line Antartick to their words The King dispatches his Grand Provost with all diligence to seize upon the Admirals wife and Mounseir de la Vall the Son of Andelot deceased who by Gods good Providence were already fled to Genova and the better to escape further danger went to live among the Switzers in the Canton of Bearn the younger Children both male and female were condemned to death in their tender years They give also new charges to their Ambassadours negotiating in Germany Poland England Switzerland and other Forein Countreys to justify the actions of the King and Catholicks tending also to the Publick reproach and shame of the Admiral and his Friends But God used these things afterwards as a further mean to discover their treachery and so proved against their expected advantage For had the King and Court of France declared at first that they designed to cut of their Enemies as the exuberous branches of the Kings indulgency and now grown his Enemies hy their plotted treachery this would have excused them from perjury and treason but to pretend that they intended not what they really resolved to do and nothing less than what they did This I say was the height of dishonour to the Crown of France And thus died that famous Religious and Noble Commander Gasper de Colligny Admiral to the Protestant Army and cause for the space of twelve years whose deserved Fame lived with great renown in the hearts of all the Godly and with no less terrour and amazement often filled the Kingdom of France whose valour purchased great merit from his Enemies He that made the King and Court afraid in a hasty and disorderly retreat from Meaux to Paris And that I may add one mite to the Treasure of his true worth this is he that many praised and all admired that through a wise conduct of his affairs terrified his boisterous Enemyes to a submissive calm of subjection A man so inspired with great courage and constancy that to take a Description by any pen would be the highest road to lay his merits in the grave of obscurity being a man full of the sail of valour and sound judgment a star of the greatest magnitude in the affairs of highest importance shining for ever in the lowest obscurity of discords sudden dangers and insurrections One that cannot be enough admired commended or honoured being above all a man of profound judgement in point of reality This being the least part of honour that is paid to his eternal worth by all that knew him He he it was that basely suffered the unresistable shock of a perfidious and treacherous death cowardly murthered by those that durst never draw a Sword with a Resolution of valour against this Champion but trembled at his Remembrance and Presence who was never overcome by valour but by cowardice Amongst the rest that were brought to a Legal murder was one named Caviagnes Master of the Requests to the King and one named Briquemault both inward friends to the Admiral and in great reputation in the Court of honour and Camp of Chivalry Now this brave Commander and old Souldier Briquemault having great renown by his service under King Francis and King Henry was therefore honoured by all but such as love no Rivals nor valued any crueltie if they could but out shine others loyalty by their own treachery This brave Gentleman was about fourscore and ten years old and poor Gentleman had gone through too much proof of fidelity now to end his life under the command and protection of such a cruel Tyrant Now these gallant Commanders aged with experience and filled with innocent integrity were like Lambs before Wolves threatened to be torn in pieces unless without delay they would with their own hands subscribe that they were of the Admirals Councel to cut off the King by an untimely death together with the Queen his Mother and his Brethren and promising pardon if they would accept of it These innocent Gentlemen cryed out That they were ready to suffer the Torments of their merciless cruelty upon their bodies rather than pull down vengeance upon their spotless souls so humbly beseeched the King to spare his torments seeing none could peirce so far as force themselves to a false accusation yet if his Majesty pleased to totment their bodies they hoped God would so in his mercy order it as to lessen the pain thereof by his gratious presence in their souls in whose goodness they hoped to depend for aid rather than perjure their own Souls by a false accusation of themselves and others being as full of innocency and integrity as they of cruelty and perjury they were resolved never to accuse murthered innocency wherein they never were guilty nor commit such an execrable crime as the King requested and say they though the King values the tranquility of his Realm before the blood of Christians yet we hope to embrace a peaceable conscience in trampling underfoot the high esteem of a transitory possession for what will it gain us to gain our lives and lose our immortal souls The Judges having some remorse of conscience began to deny the embracement of that infamy The Judges toucht in conscience do refuse to fit in Judgement which must justly fall on their unjust Sentence for indeed their reasons were unrefistable and these Judges understood the intent of the King by the Defendants Pleas so they refused any more to hear or determine much less to give Sentence whereupon were new Judges appointed in their room and to them was joined a Tormenter and Notary as
attempt what they pretend which reasons for general satisfaction I shall gather together because it is declared by the King that it was for a Plot against him and the Court although it is clear that it was resolved on by the King Queen Mother and Cabinet Council to destroy the Admiral and his Friends which by the Kings Commandment is lamentably and wofully effected to the great dishonour of the King and the whole French Nation and cannot but ly as a blot to after ages and a time there must be to satisfy God and the World for it Now who can imagine that the Admiral should think with a few Gentlemen allowed for his Guard to attempt any thing against the King within Paris there being in the Court constant watch and at the entrance to the Castle a strong Guard of Scots Switzers and Gaseoins and was then more strictly kept in regard of the number of Lords Noble-men and Gentlemen met to solemnize the mariage of the King of Navar and the Lady Margaret and that it is well known that in three hours space may be ready at command sixty thousand men in arms Besides all these Reasons the young Noblemen and Gentlemen that came with the King of Navar and Prince of Conde had no other arms than their Swords and Innocency which latter in the greatest danger would defend them best And yet further to clear all doubts the Princes and Noblemen of the Protestants for a Pledge and Testimony for a Solemn Engagement of their innocency they brought with them their Wives Sisters Children and Kinswomen having no thoughts of any thing but Triumph and Recreation The Nobles and Gentlemen intending to shew their expert skill at the Tilt and Tourney Now if it be said it was after the Admirals Hurt that he studied to be revenged It is answered With what probability can any sober mind imagine or conceive that the Admiral lying wounded on both arms tyed up and hourly waiting when one Arm should be cut off by the Doctors advise that the Admiral I say being Guarded by the Kings own Guard should attempt with three hundred Gentlemen of his Guard to surprize the King c. being so sick as few daies was expected to pass over till God would call him to himself that any should think three hundred so resolute as to set upon a City wherein was sixty thousond in Armes by the first Alarum But doubtless had such a thing been known or suspected he would have been secured by Cossin and his men who had by the Kings commandment environed and beset him how soon might the sick Admiral been apprehended as well as murthered There was never any thing laid to his charge which could be proved by the least witness nor what they laid to his charge had the least mention of time place adherents means or witness so that if it had been proved or suspected the King should have proceeded according to Law and Justice which are well known to be the props and Pillars on which a Kingdoms happiness stands secure But suppose we that all these things had been really true and that the manner of the Admirals death and his Complices had been allowable by all nations yet let us consider a little and demand a reason of the insolent cruelty infamous barbarism and unheard-of bloodshed of those that were thought by themselves altogether innocent of any plot being antient Matrons many Noble young Ladies and Gentlewomen in the flour of their Age cut off so basely and barbarously a number of women great with child against the Law of nature were cast into Rivers before the time of their Delivery many aged persons also which lay sick in Bed Many Counsellours Advocates Proctors Physicians c. that consulted only with their books and the rest sequestered from the conference of any Counsel by the Sex and degrees Why was there also so many learned Teachers and Professors of the Arts and Sciences amongst whom was Peter Ramus that famous man for learning through out the world who stands in the memory of the truly learned as really as these bloody actours render France infamous How many young Students without hearing or pleading their cause were here destroyed by this sad Decree of the King and Council Lastly what Armour was found what weapons was found in any of the Protestants houses by which means suspition might grow to proof Or why was the Kings Letters sent to command the like murthers at Meaux Lyons Troys Tholouse and all over his Dominions such slaughters were committed till the very blood of Gods saints made the Rivers swell and streamed through the streets reaking hot that at least 40000. were slain by his bloody command Thus has this King and Court imbrewed their hands in the blood of so many thousand innocent souls even to the great expectation of some vengeance which in Gods due time must needs break out on that land to the third and fourth Generation if a General repentance do not expiate this deserved punishment Now Christian Reader to bring this Kings reign to a close I shall only abstract the most notable passages together which hapned after this sad Massacre CHAP. XI The Contents THe Protestants that escaped this sad Massacre fled to many Places Some set forth Books of this perjury and bloody cruelty Others flie to divers Towns and Cities and fortifie them Rochel strongly fortified Fourty seven Ministers fly to Rochel and escape The King and Court keep a day of Thanksgiving for this Victory The Rochelois refuse a Garrison sent by the King The French King lets the King of Spain know the War against him was in jeast as well as his Oaths and Promises The Counts Army routed and spoyled by Treachery Monsieur de la Nove turns to the Protestants The unparallel'd Siege of Sancerre yet yielded on honourable terms The unheard-of siege of Rochel Yet had honourable Conditions granted The Protestants fortifye and resolve to sell their Lives at a Dear Rate The King takes Villars and performs not Covenant The Protestants take in sundry Towns The King besieges Sommiers and with great loss leaves it and they besiege it again and take it on terms The King besieges Caussade and with great loss retires the Protestants are encouraged by their good Success They Protest against the Kings last Edict contrary to the Edict of Pacification Their Noble and gallant Declaration Their demands of the King and desire of Peace The King terrified with their Resolutions The King recovers of a desperate sickness A Parliament called and the Protestant Deputies resolve to meee them but no good done A new Plot discoverod Count Montgomery with his Fleet from England is besieged at St. Lo he escapes in person and is besieged at Danfront he yields on terms of life but the King breaks Engagement and basely beheaded him in Paris The Conclusion of this sad History The King dies wallowing and rowling himself in his own blood The Duke of Anjou succeeds to
leaving with one La Gross his Chirurgion was by degrees poisoned and swelled so that the wonderfully and narrowly escaped with his life But these Gloves that poisoned this virtuous Queen were ordered in such a secret sort and just proportion that having worn them a while a violent Feaver seized on her which ended her life in four daies And thus died this Noble Queen bewailed exceedingly by all the Protestants for I find her Enemies say The Queen of Navar in part described She was a Lady of a noble Spirit invincible courage many degrees above most of her Sex qualities besides her Chastity and Magnificence worthy Eternal praise She was one that dived into the deep Mysteries of Divinity which raised her illustrious mind to a high pitch of Christianity being also very judicious of a ready wit invincible in adversity absolute in her actions capable of Counsel comprehending things with great vivacity of Spirit delivering her mind with an admirable grace either by word or writing her comprehension of deep things was of a treble magnitude above any of her sex neither can my pen drop her praise but her infinite merits and if it were possible for any pen to erect Trophies of Honour to the peerless challenges of her immortal praise the lustre of her incomparable merits would be the truest guide in the darkest night This noble Queens Death gave way to the Prince her Son to be King of Navar The Q. death intitles her Son the P. to be K. of Navar. to whom the Kingdome came This unhappy death was looked on by many as very ominous portending a sure prognostick of some unfortunate Catastrophe many bing struck with amazement at this sudden treochery and bloody death concluding it to be a sad Fore-runner of some mischief to come But that which made many Protestants cast away all fear was the Kings loving carriage to them insomuch that things at this time looked with a peaceable countenance throughout the Kingdom of France Now the day of marriage between the Lady Margaret and the King of Navar was appointed which was a great day of joyful hopes to all the Protestants and made all things seem more serene and calm on their side in that also the Guisans and the rest of the chief Catholicks shewed great discontent thereat for all good men judged it an assured pledge of the Kings fidelity and of peace in as much as he shewed such outward joy and declared It was not so much for the wedding as that he said it was for a strong knot of Peace and would tend to a general satisfaction of peaceable Spirits and for the Good of the whole Nation August the 17. the King of Navar The K. of Navar and Lady Margarite maried with great joy on both sides but greater sorrow succeeds and the Lady Margaret was maried with great Solemnity before the great Church of Paris on a Scaffold in sight of all the People and there was a certain form of words so ordered as agreed with both parties which by the Kings commandment was pronounced by the Cardinal of Bourbon the King of Navars Uncle and so was this mariage solemnized with the joy of all good men being kept with Banquets dancing and Masques with a strange mixture of Papists and Protestants together Thus the poor Protestants thought with joy to welcome their own comforts but alas their hopes are frustrate in a contrary success of their expectations and the Kings promises After this the Bride with great magnificence accompanied with a great confluence of Gallants was led to the Church to hear mass The Bridegroom misliking these Ceremonies did with Henry Prince of Conde the Admiral and other Noblemen of the Protestants walk and wait without the Church door for the Brides return The Queen Mother Dukes of Anjou Guise plot But the Queen Mother and her bloody Companions with the Dukes of Anjou and Guise consult about the last Tragical act which was to kill the Admiral and to divide the Protestants thus-like moles under ground they drive on their Hellish designs in Secrecy The King to delude the more speaks publickly The K. publickly declares that he gives his Sister in Mariage as a ty of Union and peace The Admiral of the Kings fleet endeavours to surprize Rochel That he gives not his Sister in mariage to the King of Navar only but as it were to the whole Church of the Protestants to join with them in a undissoluble union and as a ty to their peace and safety Oh! painted ruin whither at last will the fury of thy bloody Chariots drive thee Now while these things proceeded thus at Paris Strozzi as aforesaid Admiral of the Kings Fleet rides before Rochel and at select times sends Captains and Souldiers into the Town under pretence of buying necessaries for their Fleet and sometimes did come ashoar himself but the King had given him Commission to seize on the City although as before it was given out that he say to entrap all the supplies going from Spain to the aid of the Duke of Alva in the Low Countries The like Treachery was used in another part of France by Gonzague Duke of Nevers with a party of Horse neer to La Charite where a bridge passes the River Loyre which the Protestants then had The protestants at Lyons had their names put in a bloody Book this Gonzague requests Liberty of the Town to muster shewing the K. Letters which indeed he had The Governour of Lyons commanded he names of the Protestants to be written in a Book which in regard of their Horrid cruelties committed and devillish Bucheries committed in this City was justly called the bloody Book The Admiral The Admiral desires to depart Paris but the K. desired his stay which on some other grounds he did but sad complaints and great suspition of treason came to his cars but he believes it not after the mariage being then the time he appointed and desired to return to his own house did move the King about his departure but so great was the Court revellings that the Admiral coul not have private access to his Majesty to deal in State-matters Rochel at this time was in a manner besieged with Souldiers arriving hourly giving out terrible threats against the Town which made the Protestants begin to cry to the Admiral for succour and relief for indeed the Admiral was as a nursing Father to them in other Towns also was heard secret murmurings terrifying the most cleer-sighted Protestants giving too sure cause to think a bloody and terrible spectacle would be shewed beyond present conception which will shortly be seen in a horrible manner The Admiral knew not what to answer to all these sad complaints that uncessantly flowed in as one wave on the back of another and all to get him from the Court He answered to all the King had made us swear before him to be Friends the Lady Margaret is given in mariage